Podcasts by Category
- 58 - So you need a little Pep Talk on... Money, honey!
It's officially our last Pep Talk of the year! We're rounding out the season with a quick Pep Talk all about... Money honey. This chat covers a few tips and tricks from Grace, all about planning, goal setting, and house-buying.
Plus we've included some stellar thoughts from Christine, who runs the @itsnosecretnz podcast and works at index fund manager Kernel Wealth. Soak up Christine's notes on growing your wealth and reaching financial freedom (and what that even means!).
Thanks for being part of the Pep Talk gang in 2021 and coming along for another year of weird old times. It's been a privilege to share these topics, and I've learned so much – I hope you have too.
Don't forget to follow @peptalkwithgrace to keep up with my adventures over the summer.
Tue, 14 Dec 2021 - 22min - 57 - So you need a little Pep Talk on... Your Career
It's the second to last Pep Talk of the season (and the year!), so dig in folks!
This time we're hitting up a quick Pep Talk all about career. Given the average adult spends 90,000 hours working in their lifetime, she's a pretty big topic guys! That's a third of your life, so you may as well be doing something you enjoy.
I've hooked ya up with some expert advice from the wonderful Samantha Gadd, founder of HR agency Humankind, and yes of course there'll be the usual little bit of advice and personal experience from Grace as well.
PS. Can you do me a favour? If this episode, or any of my Pep Talks, have resonated with you, please share it with your friends or followers! The more we spread this info and inspo the better. Tag @peptakwithgrace for snaps for sharing too. Thanking you!
Mon, 06 Dec 2021 - 17min - 56 - So you need a little Pep Talk on... Health & Wellness
It's Pep Talk time! This time we're getting a Pep Talk on a pretty major topic in life – health and wellness.
This quick Pep Talk is perfect to give you the boost you need on looking after your health and wellbeing, from physical health, nutrition and exercise to mental health, stress and sleep.
But best of all, it's all about balance - listening to your body and your self and finding the best version of wellness for you personally.
As well as a few tips from me, this episode features a top notch chat with Sarah Percy, a registered dietitian who runs TEA retreats (Think, Eat, Act) to provide holistic health services.
Sarah is a wealth of information and tips on this topic, and I love how balanced and realistic she is - it's so refreshing.
You can find out more about Sarah and how you can work with her at tea-retreats.co.nz and also on Instagram where she shares lots of good tips @sarah.percy.9. Don't forget to follow Pep Talk too while you're here - @peptalkwithgrace.
Wed, 24 Nov 2021 - 25min - 55 - So you need a little Pep Talk on... Finding Your Why
For this brand new Pep Talk, I've joined forces with Xero to take a deep dive into a topic that's a bit of a reoccurring theme on Pep Talk – finding and knowing your “why”.
This applies in all areas of life, but especially in business. As we know, business can be satisfying, rewarding and fun, but it can also be hard! When we get bogged down in the day-to-day grind and admin and long hours, it can be hard to remember why we started in the first place.
Today's new episode digs into what gets in the way of our “why”, and some tips on how to get back to it. Plus I've snuck in a really fun chat with Stacia, who founded LilyBee Wrap, all about how and why she started her business over 5 years ago, and some of the challenges she's faced along the way.
Make sure you head to Xero's Why We're In It Hub, which has a huge wealth of FREE information and resources to help business owners reconnect with their why.
Plus jump over to Instagram @peptalkwithgrace and let us know YOUR why!
Sun, 07 Nov 2021 - 42min - 54 - So you need a little Pep Talk on... Hobbies
This time on Pep Talk we're talking all things hobbies and finding time for a little joy. Science tells us that having activities in your life that you enjoy doing for fun is a really important element of mental health and good emotional well-being.
But in reality, it's really hard to actually do these things. Just surviving as an adult (especially right now!) is really hard! It's hard to imagine also living a fulfilled and happy life around that sometimes.
So even though we know this is something we'd like to do more of, and maybe have found the time to make it happen, it can be hard to know what to do or how to find the time.
This quick 20 minute pod has some tips and ideas on fitting a little more fun into life and exploring hobbies, and also an awesome chat with Lauren Keenan who wrote 'The 52 Week Project', where she tried 52 new activities every week for a year to help get her our of the downward spiral of suck. Who better to shed some light on this for us?!
Head to @peptalkwithgrace for more Pep Talk content, and find out more about Lauren's wonderful book on her website laurenkeenanwriter.com.
Mon, 18 Oct 2021 - 21min - 53 - So you need a little Pep Talk on... Body Image
Welcome to Season 2 of Pep Talk! We're branching out a little bit, going back to the dictionary definition of Pep Talk – "a short speech intended to encourage someone to feel more courageous, enthusiastic and positive".
Each time, we dive into a new area of life, business or career – something that we could all do with a little Pep Talk on. It's be informative, practical, and most of all a little bit inspiring.
For episode 2, we're exploring the weird old world of Body Image. It's a goodie!
This quick 20min pod is packed full of the background to my body acceptance journey (warning I may get a little emo!), and a bunch of practical techniques I've learned along the way in my journey with body image. I've also snuck in some experience and tips from radio DJ on The Edge and one of my body acceptance role models, Meg Mansell.
Give me 20mins of your day and in return I'll give you some insight and practical tips so you don't waste another second of your wild and precious life worrying about the shape and size of your body. Let's do this!
PS. Got some ideas on what you'd like a little Pep Talk on? Head to @peptalkwithgrace with your ideas!
Wed, 06 Oct 2021 - 22min - 52 - So you need a little Pep Talk on... Imposter Syndrome
Welcome to Season 2 of Pep Talk! But brace yourself, we're branching out a little bit, going a little bigger, back to the dictionary definition of Pep Talk – a short speech intended to encourage someone to feel more courageous, enthusiastic and positive.
Each time we dive into a new area of life, business or career – something that we could all do with a little Pep Talk on. It's be informative, practical, and most of all a little bit inspiring.
For episode 1, we're diving into Imposter Syndrome. Since that's the number one thing that stops most people trying something new, it feels like a timely place to start!
In this quick 20min pod, not only will you hear some tips I've learned along the way, as well as some first hand experience from Pep Talk pal Lisa founder of Move It Mama, we're also picking the brain of imposter syndrome expert, author, speaker and coach Jess Stuart.
Give us 20mins of your day and in return we'll give you some insight and practical tips you can add to your arsenal so you don't let imposter syndrome get in the way of living ya best life. Lessgo!
PS. Got some ideas on what you'd like a little Pep Talk on? Head to @peptalkwithgrace with your ideas!
Mon, 27 Sep 2021 - 23min - 51 - Bonus Episode // Lockdown Wellness
Welcome to a very special bonus episode of Pep Talk. Since we're back in lockdown - back where Pep Talk all began, it seemed like serendipitous timing to bring you a special bonus episode, which covers something that's on everyone's minds right now – Lockdown Wellness. Since I'm not sure watching copious amounts of Bachelor in Paradise *necessarily* qualifies me to talk about this, I've bought in the experts on this one... Today we're chatting with Greta File. Not only is Greta one of my oldest and dearest friends, but she's also a trained doctor who has a special interest in mental health, and has combined this knowledge with her creative and artistic side to run @memo.memoments on Instagram, a page dedicated to brining you little ideas to boost your mental health throughout the day. More important now than ever! I know she will have so many tips and ideas on how to stay as well as we can during this pandemic and I can't wait to share these with you.
Tue, 31 Aug 2021 - 38min - 50 - An Update from Grace // Episode 49
Take a listen to this quick 10min episode for a bit of an update from Grace on what's next for Pep Talk... @peptalknz
Tue, 04 May 2021 - 08min - 49 - Thunderpants // Episode 48
I swear I'm not biased (OK maybe a little bit!), but today we have another wonderful Wairarapa based business to share the story of, which happens to be where I live....
Get ready for the very fun story of Thunderpants, direct from co-founder and co-owner Josie. The Thunderpants gang make kick ass undies - they are made from organic Fair Trade Cotton, New Zealand made (by hand!), and best of all - designed so they won't go up ya bum!
Quite often we hear from new businesses on Pep Talk, so I'm excited to share this story of longevity with you - these guys have been going for a long time now.
With over 25 years of business under their belts, this is a great story in getting started, resilience, passion, export, adaptation, and trying to convince a stuffy old bank manager to take a chance on your new underpants business... and yes of course it's a bit cheeky too!
Check out Thunderpants online shop at thunderpants.co.nz and stay up to date with their latest cheeky updates via Instagram @thunderpantsnz.
Tue, 27 Apr 2021 - 48min - 48 - JOIY // EPISODE 47
Well you guys know how excited to get when we hear about businesses around chocolate, but today we're hearing about another topic that's close to my heart... wine!
Today's guest Cath founded JOIY wine, along with her winemaker husband Chris, from Martinborough, just 10 mins down the road from where I live, with world domination in mind from the get go.
Their unique 'wine in a can' creation successfully disrupted the wine industry, and introduced the joy of wine to a new generation. They really led the 'wine in can' movement, proving it's just as good as regular wine by winning a bunch of prestigious wine awards.
And now JOIY is indeed smashing it on the world stage – amazingly they are even bigger in Canada than they are here – and are taking on the big guys in an industry that is dominated by heavy hitters and intense government regulation.
Get in on this chat today to hear about how it all works behind the scenes, the challenges they've faced along the way (and trust me there are some goodies in there!), and how the JOIY philosophy of 'live for today' comes to life...
Grab a glass (or can) of wine, pop your feet up and settle in for a chat!
You can order JOIY wine online at joiy.co.nz and of course keep up with their adventures over on Instagram @joiywine. Cheers to that!
Tue, 13 Apr 2021 - 48min - 47 - One Percent Collective // Episode 46
This week we're hearing all about One Percent Collective, which is a really cool New Zealand founded platform that makes it super easy to give (you guessed it!) 1% of your income to charity.
Pat, who we're talking to today, found his way to One Percent Collective (like a lot of us do!) the roundabout way, via work in photography, design, music and magazines. He was living in Burma, managing a charity at the time, and saw first hand the difference that small amounts of money can completely change people's lives who are going through a hard time.
Years later and One Percent Collective is thriving, supporting 14 New Zealand charities with over $2 million dollars of donations from their donors, and charities like KaiBosh receiving over $200,000 of donations over the years.
This really is a inspiring story of how little things can add up to something much bigger. Join me to hear all about it from Pat, as well as learning about how he balances this on top of his day job, the surprising impact of Covid on the charity, the beauty of putting yourself out there and asking for help, their plans for the future, and of of course the answer to the question on all of your lips: Britney or Christina...
If you're inspired like me to sign up head to onepercentcollective.org and join the gang. Remember you can choose what amount you donate, and it only takes 3-4 minutes to sign up. You can also keep up with what Pat and his team are up to on Instagram @onepercentnz. See you there!
Tue, 30 Mar 2021 - 50min - 46 - The Chocolate Bar // Episode 45
This week we're diving back into one of my favourite topics – CHOCOLATE! Today you'll be hearing the story of The Chocolate Bar, from founder Luke.
Just shy of six years ago, Luke was working in hospo, having arrived in Wellington from the UK, and – in a tale that will sound familiar to a lot of us – found himself searching for his “thing”.
After tasting fellow Pep Talk alumni Wellington Chocolate Factory's then new product, Luke followed his instinct and new passion for craft chocolate, and barely a month later found himself launching The Chocolate Bar - an online chocolate shop, curating and celebrating craft chocolate from all over the world.
Five and a half years later and The Chocolate Bar is going stronger than ever, with a gang of loyal subscribers to his curated monthly boxes of quality craft chocolate bars, and has become a “go to” expert on all things craft chocolate in New Zealand.
Safe to say, Luke has definitely found his “thing”, and I know this story is going to be really interesting and inspiring to so many of us to find ourselves pondering our raison d'être. So grab some (*good quality single origin) craft chocolate, and hunker down for a great chat with Luke today...
You can find out more about Luke and order yourself some of his amazing craft chocolate range on his website – thechocolatebar.nz – and follow his journey on Instagram @thechocolatebar.nz.
Tue, 16 Mar 2021 - 43min - 45 - Fleur Wickes // Episode 44
I am incredibly excited and honoured to welcome today's guest onto Pep Talk. Of course I love all our guests and would never pick favourites, but today's story is one I feel a special connection to – today we're chatting with Fleur Wickes, an artist who's work I have in pride of place in my kitchen.
As you'll hear during the episode, I (not so eloquently!) try to pin down exactly what I find so special about Fleur's work, but I think it's just her belief that the magic of life is in the small moments and the tiny details – that really shines through in her creations. Something that has been especially bought to our attention in this Covid world we find ourselves in - home, family and the little details have become more important than ever.
Of course Pep Talk is all about business, and while Fleur is first and foremost an artist, what she has built over the years is 100% a business – she now has premises and an employee. Plus, part of what has made her so successful is her wicked combination of skills on both the art side but also in business, marketing and sales, that has combined to create absolute magic.
This episode is just full of so many thoughtful observations and moments, Fleur shares so much of her story and her passion with us in this chat. You'll just have to listen to see what I mean - and I guarantee you'll feel intrigued and uplifted and entertained and inspired, all at the same time.
Check out Fleur's art to see what we're talking about – head to fleurwickes.co.nz to see and purchase her art, and have a nosy on Instagram too @fleurwickes, where she shares her personal story as well as her journey of creating her art, her artists life.
Tue, 02 Mar 2021 - 51min - 44 - Kester Black // Episode 43
Welcome to the first Pep Talk of 2021! After a solid break and a few dreamy holidays, I'm very ready to get stuck back into chatting and hearing the amazing stories behind some of our favourite local businesses. I have some exciting plans in the works for Pep Talk this year and I'm so glad you're along for the ride. Today we're straight into it for 2021 with Anna Ross, founder of vegan and cruelty free cosmetics brand, Kester Black. Probably best known for their rainbow of nail polishes in simple and stylish bottles, but like many of the stories we hear on Pep Talk, Kester Black had a more roundabout route to finding it's niche. Fresh from studying fashion at polytech in hometown Dunedin, Anna moved to Melbourne. Despite already having her own fashion label while she was studying, she couldn't afford to pay excess baggage to take her sewing machine over the ditch, so she shifted to jewellery making, learning from scratch from other makers. It was when she started playing with lacquer for her jewellery, that she stumbled upon what is now the nail polish of Kester Black as we know it. And also a quick note before we start that we recorded this chat last week, before the Level 2 and 3 announcements were made here in New Zealand, so just a warning you now in case a few of our Covid references sees slightly out of date already! Things change fast at the moment. Kester Black have a strong social media game so make sure you give them a follow @kesterblack and keep up with what they are up to. Check out their full range at www.nz.kesterblack.com.
Tue, 16 Feb 2021 - 50min - 43 - Made of Tomorrow // Episode 42
Here we are – our final episode of 2020! Today we have the MOST perfect way to round out the year – chatting with Matt co-founder of Made of Tomorrow.
You'll most likely know these guys from their iconic diaries, which not only look beautiful, but are made from recycled coffee cups (and entirely made right here in New Zealand). Made of Tomorrow also have an amazing range of homewares – all minimal and functional objects, carefully designed and manufactured from high quality materials in New Zealand.
Matt runs Made of Tomorrow with his partner Dan, from their base in Papamoa, where they moved in January before the madness of this year began. They ran a previous business together, which we'll hear a little about, and recently sold it – giving them an amazing base to run Made of Tomorrow in a truely thoughtful and deliberate manner, I really admire Matt's approach and outlook on the rollercoaster that is business, which you'll hear all about.
This chat is the most perfect way to wrap up Pep Talk for the year, and get you guys (and me!) inspired and excited for next year and more good stuff to come – I can't wait for you to hear it, so let's go...
The day before we chatted, Matt and Dan just released a whole range of beautiful new products, including some perfect Christmas gifting pieces. Make sure you head to their website if you have a few final Christmas presents to tick off (or just because!). Check out madeoftomorrow.com and @madeoftomorrow on socials to see a bit more about what Matt and Dan are all about.
Sun, 13 Dec 2020 - 51min - 42 - Topic Chat 8 // Finances
If you talk to lot of self employed people, or people thinking about starting a business, more often than not the one key area they are feeling unsure of are the finances – tracking income and expenses, paying tax, when do you have to pay GST, and those surprise ACC invoices that always show up out of the blue.
So of course for one of our Topic Chats I had to get a bit finance-y. If I'm honest, it's probably my least favourite area of business and - as today's guest himself says - it's totally not sexy. But it's so important if you want to succeed in business – and actually just in life in general, right?
Today's guest is James, co-founder of Hnry. Hnry is a handy app that takes all the hassle out of accounting for self employed people, freelancers and contractors. Your income comes in and Hnry automatically takes out your tax and ACC payments at the appropriate rate using a clever algorithm, so you know you're meeting your requirements and don't have to worry about setting aside money each month (or let's be honest, spending it accidentally!). So handy!
On this chat I'll pick James' brain for some finance and business tips, but also make sure we hear the Hnry story too – as they are making some serious waves and disrupting a very old school industry in a pretty cool way. Alright, let's pop our money-geek hats on and kick into it...
Find out more about Hnry at www.hnry.co.nz, or on Instagram @hnrynz.
Sun, 06 Dec 2020 - 45min - 41 - OneUp x Pep Talk // Episode 40
This week we're mixing things up a bit! I've joined forces with Sarah from The OneUp Project Podcast.
OneUp is all about Financial Literacy & Self Development - each week Sarah covers topics and welcomes guests to chat about all those things we weren't taught but should've been! Think KiwiSaver, saving, shares, home ownership, insurance, mindset, investing, and all that jazz. Money stuff could be a bit yawn, but Sarah brings the fun and makes sure all this heavy info is presented in a digestible and entertaining way.
Sarah kicked off OneUp a few months before Pep Talk launched and we've been cheering each other on virtually via our DMs ever since, so when she said she's heading to Wellington, we had to take the opportunity to catch-up and record an episode together.
So join us for this week's chat where Sarah asks me all about my experiences in podcasting, business, and life in general. And likewise I can't wait to fire a few questions back, especially since Sarah has recently quit her job in accounting to pursue her passions – a move you KNOW I'll be super excited about.
Hope you enjoy this episode with a bit of a twist, and thanks to Sarah for making this happen!
Head over to Sarah's new website to find all her episodes, plus a bunch of handy content and even an e-book or two to download - theoneupproject.nz. Plus of course give her a follow on Instagram @theoneupproject to follow her journey after she resigned from her job!
Tue, 01 Dec 2020 - 1h 09min - 40 - Taken Care Of // Episode 39
Today's Pep Talk guest Olivia had always been mad about gifting, loving to shower her friends and family with specially curated gifts from a super young age. It's totally her love language!
Three or so years ago, she was lucky to score an internship at Spotify in Sydney at the end of her business degree, and she obviously blew them away as an intern, because they offered her a full time role in the team... Which she turned down!
That's right, she returned home to New Zealand, driven by a desire to create a role for herself where she could do what she loved every day – that's right, GIFTING. And how exactly do you make a role for yourself in gifting? You start a gift box company!
So Olivia teamed up with her Mum Vicki and together they launched Taken Care Of. This isn't your usual cellophane wrapped wicker hamper gift box situation - these are stunning, premium, carefully curated and impeccably presented experiences.
Trust me, I know from personal experience that Olivia's gift boxes are are an absolute delight to both send and to receive, and since we're heading into peak gifting season with Christmas just around the corner, I thought it was perfect timing to grab Olivia for a chat to hear how it started, how it's going, and where it's all heading.
I just know you'll love a sneaky peek at the Taken Care Of website – it's as beautiful as their boxes are – and of course check out the gifting options for Christmas and beyond. But you might want to get in quick as their pre-curated range is selling out crazy quickly! Head to takencareof.co.nz or @takencareof for all the details and remember to #shoplocal this Christmas. Happy shopping!
Sun, 22 Nov 2020 - 46min - 39 - Wundaire // Episode 38
Seven years ago, while living in Auckland, Felicity was on the hunt for pots to keep her house plants in and couldn't quite find what she was after, so signed up for a 10 week pottery course to learn how to make her own.
Fast forward to today and what started as a hobby has turned into a full time gig, and Felicity (with her brand 'Wundaire') has become one of the best known and sought after ceramists and creative folk in the country.
I'm lucky to call Felicity a friend (we both live in Greytown in the Wairarapa), but despite living only 500 metres apart we recorded this chat from our respective homes - though this episode is so packed with our cackling laughter I think we might have heard each other in real life too!
Felicity is so warm, talented and downright lovely, I know you're going to love hearing the whole Wundaire story from her - including how it all started, some of the challenges of growing a creative business and holding onto your passion, balancing family and work, and her exciting vision for the future of Wundaire. Get ready for a very fun Pep Talk episode!
You can have a nosy at Felicity's work on Instagram @wundaire, or head to her website wundaire.com for online orders and workshop sign-ups, and don't forget to follow @peptalknz while you're there too!
Sun, 15 Nov 2020 - 50min - 38 - Topic Chat 7 // Digital Marketing
Digital Marketing can be a daunting area for small business, something you know you need to be on top of but it feels like there's too much to learn to even get started. But as everything moves more and more online - from shopping, to learning, to health, to work (and even more so in a post-Covid world) it's something you can't afford to ignore! So when I was picking topics for my Topic Chats, which cover a series of topics that are handy for folks starting a business or project, I knew we had to cover digital marketing somewhere along the way.
And who better to teach us all about this world than Lucy McGregor, who runs a boutique digital marketing agency. Stemming from a personal health journey following the Christchurch earthquakes, Lucy's agency specialises in working with health and wellness businesses, and as such is the perfect blend of her sociology studies, digital expertise and person interest in health and wellness.
Join me for this fun chat with Lucy where I ask her all those burning questions about online marketing - what kind of budget do I need? What channels should I focus on? What on earth is SEO? Do I need to join TikTok?! This quick 30 min chat will be the perfect starting point or sense check for all your digital activities...
(PS. Check out Lucy over on Instagram @lucykateonline and feel free to ask her more questions!
Sun, 08 Nov 2020 - 42min - 37 - Ethique // Episode 36
It's fairly common these days to see businesses built on sustainability and social values, but today's guest takes things to the next level – aiming to be the most sustainable brand in the world. I doubt you'll be surprised when I tell you who we're chatting with... Brianne West from Ethique.
In an absolute dream 'light bulb' moment Brianne (a science student at the time), noticed her conditioner was 95% water. When you think about the fact that you have water in your bathroom already, seems pretty crazy. So much unnecessary plastic and packaging!
And so Ethique was born, making concentrated solid beauty bars, back then with home printed packaging, concocted in her kitchen with her Mum's help. Nowadays Ethique is a global leading brand, not only disrupting but absolutely smashing the beauty industry, and already saving almost 10 million plastic bottles from the landfill.
Now with an aim to save half a billion bottles by 2030, I can't wait to talk to Brianne today and hear this whole story - where it all began, what this crazy journey has been like, and how they plan to reach these brilliant goals.
Find out more about the wonderful world of Ethique and have some fun with Brianne and the team over on Instagram @ethiqueworld, and remember you can order online at ethique.com.
Sun, 01 Nov 2020 - 41min - 36 - Petite Eats // Episode 35
You've no doubt heard the phrase that so many businesses are born from a personal need for something that you can't find on the market. That is especially for today's guest – Emily from Petite Eats.
After Emily had her first baby George, she wanted to feed him healthy, whole, organic food, which she made herself at home. But when she wanted to feed him out and about (which if you've had kids will know is always a minefield!) there was only the supermarket pouch options, which she found didn't quite fit the bill for what she wanted to feed her baby.
As the trend goes, if you're looking for something and can't find it, chances are other people are too! And so, with a toddler and another baby on the way, Emily and her husband launched Petite Eats, creating shelf-stable pouches of whole, organic baby food, perfect for feeding out and about or an easy option for at home too.
As suspected, she struck gold, filling a need many parents have, and Petite Eats has grown beautifully over the past few years. Since then they've expanded into feeding accessories (born from yet another need she had for her second baby!), and other silicone toys, and no doubt more to come...
Join me today for this really fun, honest and open chat with Emily - all about the ups and downs of launching a new business and parenting - and trying to do both at the same time.
PS. Like Emily said in our chat, she loves connecting with her customers on social media - so make sure you check out Petite Eats on Instagram @petiteeatsnz and join the community. You can also see and buy the full Petite Eats range on their website petiteeats.co.nz and lots of baby stores around NZ.
Sun, 18 Oct 2020 - 47min - 35 - Topic Chat 6 // Branding with Fran Drager
You'd be forgiven for thinking this week's episode is another 'solo pod' but no, I do have a guest joining me, we just sound pretty similar because... this week's guest is my sister Fran!
Fran has a background in marketing and graphic design, which has led her (via roles some awesome marketing roles in NZ businesses) to launch her own boutique creative and branding agency, Designfetti.
Nowadays as well as working as a creative account manager at a media agency, she also runs Designfetti, as well as raising her two amazing kiddies, well maybe I'm biased because they're my niece and nephew.
So of course when I was looking at topics to cover on my topic chats, branding was right at the top of the list, I knew I had to twist Fran's arm to come on to share her wisdom. Today we'll be chatting all about why building a brand is so important, who to work with to create your brand, some tips, tricks and red flags, and also of course geeking out a bit over some of our favourite business's packaging and branding...
Sun, 11 Oct 2020 - 45min - 34 - Dignity // Episode 33
When Miranda and her flatmate Jacinta applied for a summer holiday business accelerator program after uni, little did they know they'd end up creating a kickass social enterprise that's working hard to tackle period poverty across New Zealand.
Their 'Buy 1 Give 1' scheme for pads, tampons, cups and undies sees corporate across the country (like ANZ, Flick Electric, Xero and TradeMe) provide free period products to staff while at the same time donating tons of products to schools and organisations in need. They've recently added an individual gifting programme too, and also work hard alongside government to educate and campaign for free period products in schools
In this chat with co-founder Miranda we'll hear all about where this all started, how it's grown, and how she balances all of this alongside her full-time job at NZ Post - plus we'll learn a thing or two about period inequality along the way too.
Safe to say what started as a summer project has turned into something pretty special – come along and hear this amazing story with me on Pep Talk today.
If you're interested in signing up your workplace to Dignity, want to make a gifting donation yourself, or are an organisation looking for a donation, head to dignitynz.com for all the info and to sign-up. You can also keep up with their awesome work on Instagram over at @_dignitynz.
Sun, 04 Oct 2020 - 44min - 33 - Topic Chat 5 // Growing Your Business
Welcome to another 'Topic Chat' on Pep Talk today - my series of shorter eps covering helpful topics for some one starting or growing their business or project. So far on my chats we've covered all things starting out, so today I thought we'd take the next step and dive into talking about growth and taking the next steps. I’m not talking big massive growth like how do you become the next My Food Bag overnight (although of course that can be in the big picture plan!), I’m more talking the journey you go on in business to move from say being a sole trader (just you, doing your thang, maybe on the side of another more regular job), onto a legit small business, maybe with a small team, shop or office and so on. As always there'll be tips, tricks, anecdotes and (of course!) checklists and actionable steps to take right now. Join the convo over on IG @peptalknz or email hello@peptalk.co.nz. I'm all ears on your business ideas and growth plans!
Sun, 27 Sep 2020 - 37min - 32 - All Good // Episode 31
If you caught my Instagram stories a while back, you might have gathered by now I have a slightly unhealthy obsession with Oat Milk and can talk for days about how good it is!! I discovered it when my little girl Demi had a dairy intolerance as a baby, and haven't looked back since. So safe to say I jumped at the chance to have All Good on the podcast – All Good are all about being... well good! Good for growers, good for the land, good for you. They search the world for the best Fairtrade bananas, mangos, and now oat milk, and bring them back for Kiwi families. It's all about choice – giving us the choice of more ethical options, that support growers and the land. This week I'm chatting with Faye, General Manager of All Good, to hear all about where All Good started, the challenges of importing containers full of fresh bananas that only have a 24 hour shelf life, and the joys of launching their Oat Milk, a brand new cafe product, 3 weeks before lockdown kicked in and all our cafes shut! We also dip into her personal career and background and how she ended up as GM of a Fairtrade banana company, and what she's learned along the way... So grab a banana (or maybe an Oat Milk flat white) and get comfy for today's Pep Talk! Make sure you keep an eye out for that All Good sticker on your bananas next time you're doing your food shopping, and give oat milk a try if you haven't already. If you're listening to this episode around the time of launch, head over to the Pep Talk Instagram @peptalknz as we have an exciting giveaway with All Good kicking off, so you can try their amazing Oat Milk for yourself.
Sun, 20 Sep 2020 - 47min - 31 - Topic Chat 4 // Balance with Alliv Samson
Today we're covering something that I feel like comes up in pretty much every chat I have with an entrepreneur, someone considering starting a business, or in a career context... balance! This is a huge and very personal topic, at the end of the day a lot of it comes down to each individual as a person, but it's still super interesting to hear everyone's personal take on finding balance. To give us her take on things, today we have Alliv on Pep Talk, co-founder of Kami, an ed-tech start-up. Kami means paper in Japanese, and (in a very basic description!) is like a virtual pen and paper for educators and students – which during Covid lockdown, has absolutely exploded. These guys have gone from having 1 million sign-ups a year in 2019, to 1 million sign-ups a month now. On top of that, while also surviving a global pandemic with the rest of us, Alliv and her co-founder and husband Henjie, have also welcomed their first baby and started a family. What. A. Rollercoaster. I can't wait to hear Alliv's take on things and hear some tips from her on how she manages to balance raising a tiny human with scaling-up a tech start-up and riding a huge growth wave, all during a global pandemic...
Sun, 13 Sep 2020 - 38min - 30 - Angel Delivery // Episode 29
You know those times when a friend or family member has had a baby, or moved house, or is going through some tough times – the first thing you always think of is to drop them a meal to help ease the load. But what if your friend lives in a different city or even country to you? Well that's where today's guest comes in... Angel Delivery sends freshly made gourmet meal care packages all over the country, arriving chilled on the doorstep - providing help, love and comfort just when it's needed the most. Today I'm chatting with Rebecca Cass, founder of Angel Delivery. Over 10 years ago when Becs was working as paediatric nurse, she saw new mums and dads leaving hospital with their newborn baby and bunches of flowers under their arms, when what they really needed was a home cooked meal! So Becs stated a service – then called Baby Angel – which found her turning up on new parents' doorsteps across Wellington with a mop and a chicken pie. Fast forward 10 years and Angel Delivery has absolutely taken off, and now operates around the whole country, delivering 100s of chilled fresh meal care packages every week. Nowadays Becs doesn't work hands on in the business – she's been in the USA working on a very exciting new business project, which we're going to hear all about during this episode as well. If you ever need a help out a friend and can't be there yourself, remember Angel Delivery – you can order online for nationwide delivery (often overnight) at angeldelivery.co.nz, and also come join us on Instagram and Facebook @angeldeliverynz. See you there!
Sun, 06 Sep 2020 - 46min - 29 - Topic Chat 3 // How to Start
Kicking off today our third Topic Chat - a series of shorter more specific episodes, with deep dives into topics that will be handy for people starting or running a business or a project. Today we're diving into all about How to Start. You might remember my first Topic Chat was all about Overcoming Starting Paralysis, which was about those roadblocks to getting on the way, whereas today's episode is more about those solid actionable steps you need to take to launch your business or project. We'll cover reserach, budgeting, forcasting, tax, legal structures and (the fun stuff!) brand, marketing and social media, peppered with tips, tricks and anecdotes from Grace along the way. This is the ultimate mini boot camp on how to start that thing you've always dreamed of, so... what are you waiting for? A big thank-you to the sponsor of today's episode – Hatch. If you fancy having an explore on Hatch yourself like I've been doing head to hatch.as/peptalknz and you'll score a handy $20 credit when you load $100. Nice one!
Sun, 30 Aug 2020 - 39min - 28 - Citizen // Episode 27
Every now and than a business pops up that I'm just super intrigued to hear the story behind and how it all works. Today's guest, Don from Citizen, is one of those times! Along with three business partners – a chef, a brewer, and a baker – Don is taking the circular business model to the next level.
Citizen was inspired by the fact that every year around the world we waste 1/3 of the food we produce, which is pretty scary when you think about it. So Don and the team decided to do something about it - Citizen makes new products from surplus food. They rescue food waste and re-work it into delicious new food and drink.
To kick off, the Citizen team have just launched their first product – beer made from surplus bread. Then – and this is where it gets a bit mind-bendy – they take the brew mash leftover from the beer and make... wait for it... bread! If that's not circular, I don't know what is.
I'm so keen to hear the full story behind this – not only where the idea came from, how it's been developing it, and what it was like launching it during a global pandemic – but also how it all works in practice and what Don and the team are planning next. Let's go!
If you're keen to give Citizen a go, and do your bit to support what Don and the team are doing to fix our broken food system, head to citizen.co.nz to find out where you can try their products and you can find them on Instagram as well at @heycitizens.
Sun, 23 Aug 2020 - 36min - 27 - Topic Chat 2 // Crowd Funding with Lucy Revill
For my second 'Topic Chat' today I've bought in reinforcements! To hear all about the world of crowd-funding, I'm welcoming special guest expert - Lucy Revill of The Residents.
Wellington writer, blogger and influencer, Lucy is currently crowd-funding to self-publish her first book on PledgeMe. The Residents: Made in Wellington is a beautiful design-led coffee table book with inspiring stories about people who have been shaped by the creative, enterprising city of Wellington. She smashed through her goal of raising $22,000 in just 13 hours!! Now she's moved onto her stretch-goals, and is almost there already (with a week to go!).
So who better to educate us on how to raise money with crowd-funding?! It can be such a valuable way to raise money to kick start your project or business, and I know a lot of you will find this chat really helpful and inspiring. Join me while I pick Lucy's brain on the whole process and get her pro tips, plus hear a bit of her personal story as well.
Lucy is working towards her huge next stretch goal of $40K - if you can help her get there, head to her PledgeMe page (click here) to donate now and get your name down for one of the first copies of her book (great for Christmas pressies!).
I'm so grateful to Hatch for sponsoring this episode of Pep Talk! It feels fitting to have this chat all about raising money bought to you by another awesome money platform here in NZ – but Hatch is on the other end of the spectrum and helps you put your money to work in the US sharemarkets. If you want to check it out for yourself, head to hatch.as/peptalknz to score a bonus $20 when you top up $100.
Sun, 16 Aug 2020 - 35min - 26 - Cartel Food Co. // Episode 25
I don't know about you but sometimes I really don't feel like cooking dinner, after a big day or with a whiney 3 year old at my feet. But freezer food has a bit of a bad rep, it's usually nothing gourmet and we all know how bad freezer-burn can be. Enter today's guests – Melissa and Jason from Cartel Food Co. With a love of Mexican food from a childhood living in Southern California, these high school sweethearts started Cartel Food Co 5 years ago, to bring their foodie passion to the frozen food aisle. Since their beginnings personally hand-rolling 12000 burritos from their base in the Wairarapa, now these guys have seen 550% growth and have sold over half a million burritos. Not bad at all for a stagnant freezer category huh! As fellow Wairarapa residents – represent! - I can't wait to share this story and find out a bit more about what they've learned as they've grown this business – and where they're planning to take it in the future as well. Grab a snack and get comfy, we're in for a delicious chat... PS. Give Cartel Food Co a try – their burritos are in the freezer aisle at the supermarket. They are stocked in heaps nationwide and there is a handy list of stockists on their website so you can check for your local – head to www.cartelfood.com.
Sun, 09 Aug 2020 - 47min - 25 - Pass It On Cookbook // Episode 24
Welcome to the most delicious and colourful episode of Pep Talk! Today I have the absolute pleasure of talking to Shobha and Keryn – the mother/daughter team behind the beautiful Pass It On cookbook.
It had always been Mum Shobha's dream to write a family cookbook full of their traditional family recipes, to curate and hold safe all their family's wisdom - to pass it on, so to speak, to the younger generations.
When daughter Keryn offered to help bring her Mum's dream to life, little did they know by self-publishing a cookbook they were essentially starting a small business of their own. Welcome to the world of income and expenses, photographers and contractors, printers and stockists!
I am so interested to chat with this wonderful duo and find out more about why they decided to self-publish their book, what the experience has been like and what they've learned along the way. I know this will be such an inspiring chat, full of nuggets of gold and wisdom, just like these two.
And who knows, if you have a project or idea brewing in your mind, Shobha and Keryn's story might just inspire you to see what happens when you bring it to life yourself... Let's hear more!
You can order the Pass It On cookbook online (www.passitoncookbook.co.nz) or at lots of stockists around the country (listed on their website too). Catch some behind-the-scenes glimpses and follow along with Shobha and Keryn on Instagram at @passitoncookbook too. Plus if you're listening around the time of launch head to my Instagram (@peptaknz) to enter to WIN a copy!
A big thank-you to the sponsor of today's episode – Hatch. If you fancy having an explore on Hatch yourself like I've been doing head to hatch.as/peptalknz and you'll score a handy $20 credit when you load $100. Nice!
Sun, 02 Aug 2020 - 47min - 24 - Topic Chat 1 // Overcoming Starting Paralysis
This week's episode is a little different! Along the way while recording my amazing chats with guests on Pep Talk I've noticed a few reoccurring themes – issues, niggles and stumbling blocks that are common to a lot of businesses, and just people doing stuff in general. So I've decided to bring in a few 'special topics' to my Pep Talk chats. Don't worry I'll still interweave these with the amazing businesses and people I interview, but will also throw in along the way a shorter 'special topic' kinda chat – with either me (if it's something I know about) or bring in an expert to talk it over with me and answer some questions. In today's chat, we're going to cover all things GETTING STARTED. This chat is packed full of my tips and tricks for overcoming “starting paralysis”. It's a really thing! These are a mix of kick-up-the-bum tips, and also some practical ideas to get you started. This is less of the “literally HOW do I start” and more of the “I want to start but something's stopping me” - so let's cross that bridge together and then once you're over that hump of starting paralysis we can dive into some more practical first steps in another upcoming episode. If you have any topics or questions you'd want to cover in these topic chats – hit me up! I'm always here for questions or tips too - find me over on Instagram @peptalknz or email me hello@peptalk.co.nz and we can chat. Don't forget to head onto my website (www.peptalk.co.nz) and check out the new “Work with me” tab to find out more about the magic we could create together. A big thank-you to the sponsor of today's episode – Hatch. If you fancy having an explore on Hatch yourself like I've been doing head to www.hatch.as/peptalknz and you'll score a handy $20 credit when you load $100. Nice!
Sun, 26 Jul 2020 - 27min - 23 - Raglan Food Co // Episode 22
When Tesh and her fiancé Seb moved to Raglan eight or so years ago to live a self-proclaimed hippy lifestyle, they never imagined they'd end up running the biggest non-dairy yoghurt business in New Zealand. After looking for a non-dairy alternative to fuel their love of yoghurt (because dairy has started flaring up Seb's allergies), Tesh started making coconut yoghurt in a small pot in her kitchen. When she made a big batch and had a few spare bottles she popped them on the Raglan Community Facebook page and straight away had a waiting list of locals keen to get in on the action. And the rest, as they say, is history... Except it's not really – it's never really that easy, is it? The rest is actually five or so years of incredible hard work from Tesh, Seb and their team. From traveling the country with a chilly bin, cold calling supermarkets, to outgrowing machinery and equipment on the regular - as Tesh says, its been one big challenge (but a fun one!). Tesh is such a warm, kind and successful woman and I can't wait to share her full story with you – from being home-schooled, finishing school early and not going to uni, through many jobs and small businesses along the way, all the way to where she is now – running Raglan Food Co with her fiancé, while still enjoying everything that Raglan hippy lifestyle has to offer. Come join me on Pep Talk this week to hear all about it... You can keep up to date with all of Tesh and Seb's adventures over on Instagram (@raglanfoodco), and find out your closest stockist to give it a try (trust me, you'll love it!) over on their website (raglanfoodco.com).
Sun, 19 Jul 2020 - 53min - 22 - Little Annie Pop-ins // Episode 21
If you've welcomed a little bubba into the world, today's guest will most likely need no introduction. And if you haven't, let's be honest you've probably seen your friends and family's Pop-in pictures appear on your Facebook feed - and been wondering what that little white chair has to do with everything?! Well today we're going to find out all about it - as my guest is the wonderful and talented Anna, photographer, founder and CEO of Little Annie Pop-in Portraits. Since starting out photographing weddings and families after studying photography (and a brief stint of law – like the best of us!), Anna struck absolute gold when she started offering quick baby photographs for her clients and their friends, in group sessions once a month, for just $20 a pop. Since then, through Anna and her team's massive efforts and hard work, Pop-ins have become a straight up rite of passage for new parents. Not to mention the business has morphed into a genius marketing franchise model for photographers around the country, and increasingly, the world. If you're a business geek like me – wow, what a business model. While I've been friends with Anna since pretty much the birth of Pop-ins, when we worked together in the wedding industry in Wellington – I still have so many questions to ask her about how it all works behind the scenes, marketing, the franchise model, copy-cats, balancing work and family life, and taking Pop-ins to the World... It's a goodie! Check out all the Pop-in cuteness over on Facebook (www.facebook.com/popinportraits/), and you can book online on their website (popinphotos.com) - they do have gift vouchers for a friend, if you don't have a bubba yourself!). Thank-you to the sponsor of today's episode of Pep Talk - Hatch. Hatch is an online platform here in NZ, that allows you to buy shares in US companies – all online and super easy. If you want to jump onto Hatch yourself to have an explore, use this link to find out more and score a handy $20 credit when you deposit $100: hatch.as/PepTalkNZ.
Sun, 12 Jul 2020 - 47min - 21 - Kaitahi // Episode 20
I don't know about you but I'm a BIG fan of a smoothie for breakfast (except right now where porridge is winning out on these cold winter days). But on days when I eat breakfast at work or on the go with the 3-year-old – it's often not super practical to transport a pre-mixed smoothie (or the whole blender!). That's where these clever people at Kaitahi come in. They've packed all the smoothie goodness into drops, which are flash frozen – then you just add water and shake and your fresh smoothie is ready to roll. Genius! Even better, the Kaitahi smoothie drops are made with lots of local and native Māori superfoods, such as kūmara, pūhā and kawakawa. And best of all, Kaitahi - which means "as one" - is even more unique because it's owned by the Ngaa Rauru iwi, based in South Taranaki. I'm really interested to hear a bit of a different perspective and different ownership structure today on the show, and find out a bit more about how this all works in practise. This combination of superfoods, tradition, creating jobs, using local ingredients, innovation, and all round handiness - meant I just had to get one of the iwi representatives – Arohaina – on the phone for a chat all about how this all came about and where to next for this seriously cool and unique NZ business. Come along with me and let's find out more... You can find Kaitahi Superfood Smoothie Drops at Countdown supermarkets around the country - find your closest stockist on their website (www.kaitahi.com). Follow them on Instagram to stay up to date with their latest innovations and plans (@kaitahi).
Sun, 05 Jul 2020 - 44min - 20 - Zeenya // Episode 19
If you've ever bumped into me outside of work-mode, you'll know I pretty much live in activewear and leggings. And rarely plain black too - I'm all about the colour and prints. So needless to say, I'm very excited to hear the story behind today's business - Zeenya Clothing, makers of New Zealand's happiest activewear! When Chloe and her new work friend Sarah headed to Brazil for a wedding they were just blown away by the colourful culture they found, and decided on their return to start their own New Zealand business creating colourful activewear for Kiwi women – despite having no experience in sewing or fashion between them. Zeenya is more than just colourful leggings – the quality and functionality of their products comes first of course, but they've also created a whole community here in New Zealand of proud active women who are loving their bodies and embracing a colourful life. If you're listening to this episode around the time of release, head over to the Pep Talk Instagram right now (@peptalknz) to enter our giveaway to WIN your very own pair of Zeenya leggings. These are so soft and deluxe - and made right here in NZ - you'll love them! A big thank-you to the sponsor of today's episode of Pep Talk - Hatch. Hatch is an online platform here in NZ, that allows you to buy shares in US companies – all online and super easy. Best of all they are all companies you've heard of – like Amazon, Tesla, Apple, Nike – it's all there. If you want to jump onto Hatch yourself to have an explore, use this link to find out more and score a handy $20 credit when you deposit $100: hatch.as/PepTalkNZ. Check out Zeenya's full colourful range on their website (zeenyaclothing.com), and head to Instagram to stay up to date with their latest antics (@zeenyaclothing).
Sun, 28 Jun 2020 - 41min - 19 - Coffee Supreme // Episode 18
When we were choosing which coffee to pair with our cakes when we first opened Sweet Bakery in Wellington, it was kinda a no-brainer. Coffee Supreme has been around since 1993 and is one of the best known and most enjoyed coffee brands in New Zealand – and more and more around the world as well. Hard to believe but that makes Coffee Supreme a whopping 27 years old – and when you factor in that the business was born from the ashes of a failed coffee company, and that 50% of small businesses fail within the first 5 years of their life – you'll see what we mean when we talk about longevity. Once we began working with the Coffee Supreme team we instantly found out why – of course it goes without saying that their coffee is fantastic – but their team and service takes things to the next level. Safe to say I've never met a Coffee Supreme team member I didn't like, and that no doubt is testament in part to their fearless leader – CEO Al Keating, who is my guest on Pep Talk today. Grab a coffee, get comfy, and join me for a chat while I pick Al's brain on all things coffee, culture, branding, team-work and the HUGE impact Covid-19 has had on business and life. Get ready for a rollercoaster chat guys. Ready? Let's go... If you're now hankering for a coffee, you can find Coffee Supreme in the best cafes all over the country, and also order online for delivery straight to your place (coffeesupreme.com). Give them a follow over on Instagram to keep up with their latest adventures as well (@coffee_supreme).
Sun, 21 Jun 2020 - 49min - 18 - Hatch // Episode 17
So as you might know, if you've spied my Instagram stories this week, I've recently been exploring investing in shares and learning a bit more about sharemarkets - it's always been on my "to do" list, but I haven't quite set aside the time to really dig in yet. And so that's where this week's guest comes into things – Kristen co-founded Hatch along with her business partner Natalie, launching just 15 months ago. Hatch is an online platform that allows you to invest into the US sharemarkets, all online and super easy from your couch or even your phone. These guys are opening up this world that was previously so inaccessible, and not only making it easier for existing investors but also educating and helping along those – like me! – who are new to these things! Kristen is no stranger to New Zealand start-ups and especially loves working with digital disruptors. She’s a firm believer that technology should simplify our financial lives and help us to be better with our money. As Hatch’s General Manager, she spends her time working to inspire Kiwis to be as wealthy as they should be by democratising access to world-class investment opportunities. As well as being a tech entrepreneur, Kristen has a huge passion for supporting women in leadership and I can't wait to pick her brain on the work she's doing in this space – and of course ask her for some tips for my adventures into sharemarket investing! Let's find out more... To give Hatch a try and grab $20 free credit when you deposit NZ$100, head to this website (https://hatch.as/PepTalkNZ) to sign up now! Come along for the ride with me while I give it a go. You can also follow Hatch on Instagram @hatch_invest.
Sun, 14 Jun 2020 - 51min - 17 - Twig & Arrow // Episode 16
It's a beautiful moment when a passion and a career come together, and that's exactly what my guests today, Mindy and Gretta from Twig & Arrow, have created. I feel very lucky to have got to know Mindy and her amazing family during my time at Sweet Bakery - as wedding industry comrades - and I'm really excited to introduce you guys to them today too. This beautiful duo aren't exactly your typical florists, they are botanical stylists, creating the most stunning bouquets, installations, and downright pieces of art from flowers and greenery.Their style is modern and lush, with a beautiful studio shop space in Wellington, and they also hold super fun workshops (I can say from experience!). Mindy has been a florist for over 15 years now, and more recently her lovely daughter Gretta has joined the team, helping to take Twig & Arrow to the next level with online deliveries and their new retail space. I can't wait to hear all about how Mindy started and built this beautiful business, what it's like working as a mother-daughter duo, and what their plans for the future are. *Free delivery!* Next time you are in need of a lush gift in Wellington check out twigandarrow.com and use the code TEAMTWIG for free delivery. Yay!
Sun, 07 Jun 2020 - 51min - 16 - Sweet Bakery // Episode 15
So call me crazy, but today's guest is... me! That's right, a few people have suggested along the way that, since I founded Sweet Bakery & Cakery here in Wellington, it might be cool for me to have a bit of a chat on one episode about my own journey starting a bakery business. I started Sweet Bakery back in 2014, fresh back off the plane from my OE in London, where I worked and trained at the most amazing cupcake bakery - Crumbs & Doilies. I kicked off with a stall at the Underground Market on Wellington's Waterfront, and selling cakes online for parties and events, and after a year or so I opened a retail eat-in cake shop in Karori (where my commercial kitchen was). A few years later we opened a seond cake shop, on Cuba St in Wellington, and by that stage our team had grown to 13 people - including my husband Brad (who I roped in to a full time job at Sweet along the way!). I put a call out for questions on Instagram (@peptalknz if you have fomo), and so while I'm usually the interview-ER, today you guys are doing the interviewing and I'll be answering your burning questions along the way. The wonderful Sweet Bakery is still going in all it's deliciousness - you can order online for delivery in Wellington (www.sweetbakery.co.nz) or visit the cake shops in Karori and on Cuba St. Keep up with the latest flavours and treats on Instagram (@sweetbakerynz). Yum!
Sun, 31 May 2020 - 42min - 15 - Mevo // Episode 14
After delving into the world of micro-mobility hearing all about e-scooters a few weeks ago, I was very intrigued to complete the picture and hear a bit more about Mevo– the car share service. Erik, along with his business partner Finn and a team of significant backers from Audi NZ to Z Energy, started Australasia's first free-floating car-sharing service. You reserve a car on the app, unlock it with your phone, and drive for as long as you need it for (so much more flexible than a traditional car hire service). Best of all when you're done you can park it wherever you like in the home zone - with no parking fees. Plus it ends up being way cheaper than car ownership – and you don't need to worry about getting a WOF or the battery going flat in your driveway. Given that we use our cars for only on average 1 hour each day – 4% of the time we own them for – car sharing makes total sense. Plus, it means you get a fancy, clean, well-serviced car to jump into every time you drive. Dreamy! Each Mevo car replaces 10 private cars on the road, which given that transport contributes to 58% of Wellington's carbon emissions, will make a huge difference. On top of that, the Mevo team are carbon-positive, meaning they offset 120% of the business' carbon emissions. Erik is hugely passionate about the green economy and smart cities, I'm really looking forward to picking his brain in today's chat. If you're intrigued about Mevo, you can find out more on their website (mevo.co.nz), and stay up to date with their journey on Instagram (@mevo_nz). Remember, it's free to join!
Sun, 24 May 2020 - 48min - 14 - Wellington Chocolate Factory // Episode 13
Needless to say, having founded a business literally called "Sweet", I have a major sweet tooth! So I've been itching to have a chat with Gabe – co-founder of Wellington Chocolate Factory. Wellington Chocolate Factory are New Zealand's first Certified Organic, bean-to-bar chocolate makers. Their tablets of chocolate are all very much hand-crafted and truly artisanal – I've been to the factory many times and can assure you when they say they are hand-made, they really are! If you visit their factory on Eva Street in the heart of Wellington, you can see the whole team in action, it's wide open – and YES it smells amazing! You can jump on a tour, and even do a workshop with the actual chocolate makers. Not to mention, their chocolate really is very special and unique, with beautiful packaging too. The brand is grounded by fantastic values, including paying their bean growers a fair price and truly respecting the origins of their beans. If you're listening to this episode around the time of release, make sure you head to my Instagram (@peptalknz) where you can enter our giveaway to WIN an amazing pack of Wellington Chocolate Factory - so you can try all their flavours for yourself. If hearing Gabe talk all about their delicious chocolate tempts you, you can order Wellington Chocolate Factory online with an amazing 15% off especially for our Pep Talk gang! Use the code PEPTALK for your sweet special when you order online at www.wcf.co.nz. Make sure you rally the kids in your life to enter the awesome Chocolate Dreams competition Gabe and the team are running! Find all the info about the competition and follow Wellington Chocolate Factory on Instagram (@wellingtonchocolatefactory).
Wed, 20 May 2020 - 51min - 13 - Smartass & Innocent Packaging // Episode 12
If there's one product hat maybe hadn't been disrupted, I feel like it could be toilet paper. Like those rolls haven't changed much over the years! And that's where the idea to chat with today's guest came from. Fraser is the General Manager of Innocent Packaging and Smartass. These guys make both toilet paper and amazing food packaging products from plants. Turning things like bagasse, a waste product from sugar production (that would normally be burnt-off) into useful products - this is the ideal win win solution. And it's full circle – not only does the production of the product cause less harm in the first place, but at the end of their lives these handy products can be composted and return back to the earth to be re-born. I especially enjoyed this chat as a way to hear a slightly different career path – Fraser left school early, didn't go to uni, and worked his way into the career he's in now without any formal training. It's also kinda cool to hear a business story from someone other than the founder – Fraser has a huge role in the success of Innocent Packaging and no doubt has a slightly different take on things from your traditional founder. You can order a case of Smartass TP on their website (www.smartass.co.nz), and jump on to follow the Innocent Packaging gang over on Instagram (@innocentpackaging).
Sun, 17 May 2020 - 49min - 12 - Flamingo Scooters // Episode 11
I'm sure if you've been in Wellington, Auckland or Christchurch pre-lockdown, you'll have noticed the hot pink electronic scooters dotted around the city – Flamingo Scooters. These are the only NZ owned and operated option for e-scooters on our streets – going up against worldwide giants like Uber. And even more amazing is that Flamingo was started by two 21 year old guys from Wellington, Jacksen Love and Nick Hyland. If you're a business geek like me, when you see a business pop-up like this one, you have so many questions about how it all works behind the scenes and how on earth you even go about starting an e-scooter business. Which is why I was so interested to get Jacksen on for a chat today – to ask all my burning questions about this awesome NZ start-up. On top of that, I knew these guys would have lots of interesting Covid related chat to share – especially because while their scooters have been off the streets during lockdown, they've launched Flamingo Food, delivering food on behalf of local restaurants by delivery drivers on their scooters. How's that for a fantastic pivot?! I can't wait to hear all about it... Check out Flamingo Food for your next food delivery (www.flamingofood.co.nz) and make sure you choose the hot pink locally owned e-scooters next time you need to get somewhere quick!
Wed, 13 May 2020 - 49min - 11 - Again Again // Episode 10
Remember all those times you went for a coffee but forgot your reusable cup? Well Again Again - founded by my guest today Nada and her business partner Melissa - is the ideal way to stop you from having to use as single use cup that ends up in the landfill. Again Again is a takeaway coffee cup service – the customer pays a $3 deposit when they use their first cup, then they can either return the cup and get their deposit back, or they can swap the cup for another one next time. Why do we need this? Well scarily, I know we have good intentions – but actually only 5% of takeaway coffees are made in reusable cups! We throw away 295 million disposable cups every single year in New Zealand alone, and worldwide that clocks up to 88 billion cups. I don't know about you but I'm pretty horrified by those numbers! Since they started less than 18 months ago, Again Again have nearly 200 cafes on board (across Wellington and Auckland), and are already diverting 30,000 disposable cups from waste every month. Amazing! I really hope you'll have a listen to this chat and think twice about your choices next time you're getting a coffee. The Again Again system makes it effortless to do the right thing – and I can't wait for you to hear all about the behind the scenes from Nada. *We recorded this chat right at the start of Level 3, at the time reusable cups weren't able to be used in cafes under the Covid-19 regulations. Luckily (for Again Again and the environment!) this has been reconsidered and now reusable cups are allowed to be used during lockdown. Find out more on Again Again's website (www.againagain.co) and follow on social for the latest updates (@againagainco)
Sun, 10 May 2020 - 52min - 10 - Fix & Fogg // Episode 9
I think the real test of a true peanut butter fan is when you eat it straight from the jar with a spoon, and I am proud to put my hand up! So needless to say I've been a big Fix & Fogg fan for a long time - since back in my Sweet days, I met Roman as a fellow ex-lawyer turned food business owner, when we were both starting out. I'm not sure if this is even necessary as Fix & Fogg has become pretty much a household name in New Zealand now, but just in case you're not sure – Fix & Fogg make the best nut butters right here in Wellington. Not just peanut butter, these guys now also make amazing hazelnut, almond and 'everything' butter. And also not just for breakfast, peanut butter makes a cracking lunch on a bagel, or you know, just straight from the jar like the best of us do. My guest today Roman runs Fix & Fogg along with his wife Andrea, and their factory until recently was next door to our Six Barrel Soda Co. factory on Lukes Lane, so we were lucky to get wafts of roasting nuts down the hall (and not to mention the factory seconds!!). So I was very happy to get co-founder Roman on the line for a chat, with so many questions about just how exactly you turn humble peanuts into this liquid gold, and also about their very exciting plans expanding - and actually now producing - in the USA.
Wed, 06 May 2020 - 54min - 9 - Move It Mama // Episode 8
This chat today is going to be such a great way to kick off the week – I'm so glad it's coming out on a Monday – because today I'm chatting with Lisa from Move It Mama and Move It at Home. Just a couple of years ago after having her fourth baby (!!), Lisa started doing workouts at home to get her mojo and strength back. After other parents started asking her what her secret was, she shared her workouts online via Facebook Live, and from there this thing has just spread like wildfire throughout the country - with nearly 5000 people (not just Mums) subscribing to her at home workouts (which by the way are just $10 a month!). Lisa has some seriously amazing tips to share in this chat – all about feeling great, growing a community, handling imposter syndrome and so much more. Join Lisa's workouts via her website for just $10 a month (www.moveitmama.co.nz), and follow on Instagram (@moveitmamasparkleon) for daily doses on inspiration and fun.
Sun, 03 May 2020 - 55min - 8 - The Caker // Episode 7
Today's guest is another one that is a little bit close to home – this time, because Jordan from The Caker runs a cake business, something I'm pretty familiar with from my previous life at Sweet Bakery & Cakery. The Caker is an Auckland-based bakery, which started when founder Jordan started a cake blog when she was just 21. I know a lot of people will be really interested to hear how you take your blog to the next level, and beyond – as Jordan has done so successfully. The Caker cakes are definitely not typical - using Belgian Couverture chocolate, fruit, and ground almonds - these cakes have a beautiful texture and are wholesale, moist and sumptuous. Decorations are simple but beautiful, Jordan's signature look is to decorate fresh flowers, fruit and coulis. It's a distinct style! Right now, Jordan is based in Los Angeles, busy working away on bringing The Caker LA version to life. Exactly what that looks like, and what the move has been like, I can't wait to hear all about – as well as finding out what impact Covid-19 has had on Jordan's business – both here and over in the USA too. While recording Jordan was definitely in the thick of LA life so you can hear a little background noise, and even a helicopter joining our chat part-way through – but I think that just makes it a little more authentic! Follow The Caker on Instagram (@thecaker) and order cakes and baking mixes online (www.thecaker.co.nz).
Wed, 29 Apr 2020 - 48min - 7 - Indigo & Iris // Episode 6
This latest ep sees me chatting with Hannah, the CEO of Indigo and Iris. Indigo and Iris is a make-up brand, but as it calls itself – a make-up brand that gives a damn! That's because 50% of the profits of their products go to charity. And that's not just a marketing ploy – the business started when founder Bonnie saw the Fred Hollows Foundation's amazing work in Vanuatu, and has since gone on to cure over 300 people's eyesight in the Pacific, all from sales of their first product – the Levitate Mascara. Hannah and Bonnie have a lot of exciting plans in the works for Indigo and Iris, including their next launch – 4 shades of lipstick. I can't wait for you to hear all about what Hannah has learned along the way and how they plan to, eventually, be able to offer an entire face of makeup that is linked to making a positive difference in the world. Amazing! I'm sorry this episode went a little longer than my usual 45 minutes - but Indigo and Iris is just such a wonderful business I couldn't bear to leave any questions out. Have a listen and you'll see what I mean... Be sure to follow Indigo & Iris on social (@indigoandiris) and head to their website for a spot of shopping too (www.indigoandiris.co).
Sun, 26 Apr 2020 - 58min - 6 - The Hello Cup // Episode 5
It's always blown by mind that so many millions of people in the world have periods and yet it's still a bit of a taboo subject, which is why I'm so excited to welcome Robyn from The Hello Cup onto the show today. Not only are Robyn and her business partner (and former nurse) Mary creating NZ designed and made menstrual cups, they are also opening up the conversation and normalizing period chat, and working hard on accessibility of period products and period poverty. 45 billion tampons and pads end up in the land fill each year, whereas on the flip side, each Hello Cup lasts for 5 years - and on top of that at the end of it's rich and useful 5 year life, it's fully recyclable. I loved hearing how Robyn and Mary have fused their skillsets to create a fun and unique brand with a distinct voice, and a top-notch product that's made right here in New Zealand (in the Hawke's Bay to be exact). I know everyone - male and female, young and old - can take something from this conversation, whether they have a period or not. Let's get stuck in... Follow The Hello Cup on Instagram (@thehellocup) and online on their website (www.thehellocup.com).
Wed, 22 Apr 2020 - 49min - 5 - Six Barrel Soda Co. // Episode 4
Kick off your week with a little PEP TALK - Episode 4 is out now! Listen in on Grace's chat with Joe, co-founder of Six Barrel Soda Co. Six Barrel Soda Co. is a Wellington independent soda company, making syrups and bottled sodas in weird and wonderful flavours. Having clocked being the market leader in craft soda in New Zealand, Joe and the team are now looking overseas, starting to bring the Six Barrel brand to life in Australia, the USA, and Hong Kong, with more to come. So you might have noticed this week's guest is a little unusual - if you caught my Pilot Episode you might remember hearing, I actually work as the marketing manager at Six Barrel Soda Co., so this episode is pretty close to home. Although I'm fairly familiar with the Six Barrel story and brand myself, I promise I didn't just twist my boss's arm to come on the show to fill a gap (there way too many amazing businesses out there to have to do that) - I genuinely know it'll be a really interesting story for you all to hear. I'm also looking forward to having a male perspective on the show and balancing things out a little. Joe promises me there will be some surprises along the way and some things I don't know about the business - So let's find out... Join us over on the Six Barrel Soda Co. Instagram (@sixbarrelsodaco) and remember you can order online on the Six Barrel Soda Co. website (www.sixbarrelsoda.co).
Sun, 19 Apr 2020 - 48min - 4 - Real Rad Food // Episode 3
Today I was very lucky to get half an hour or so to jump on the phone with Hannah, the founder and CEO of Real Rad Food. Hannah, who actually has a degree in georgraphy and education, came into the business world somewhat by accident – maybe the best of us do!! While studying and working at a cafe, Hannah started sharing her adventures in raw food on Instagram and quickly built up a loyal tribe of fans around the world. And now only three short years later, Hannah's business Real Rad Food supplies over 60 cafes around New Zealand and delivers direct to customers nationwide via their website from their base in Mount Maunganui. It's been so wonderful to hear how Hannah took her hobby and passion for raw food and turned it into a thriving business, with very little investment and a whole lot of determination and hustle along the way. Hannah's story is the perfect example of how you can start a 'side hustle', as a really low risk way to test out your market before you leap into the business world full-time. I know you will find this so inspiring to show you just what's possible – so let's get ready to hear the whole story from Hannah right now... Follow along with Hannah and the Real Rad Food team on their Instagram page (@realradfood).
Thu, 16 Apr 2020 - 47min - 3 - Loxy's // Episode 2
So excited to bring you Episode 2 of the Pep Talk Podcast - chatting to Kate from Loxy's. Loxy's is a hair salon in Auckland, but not just a regular hair salon - Kate and her team specialise in premium ethically sourced hair extensions, applied using a unique technique with no gluing or braiding, so they blend seamlessly – no awkward Britney Spears moments here! On top of that, their salons are just beautiful works of art – such gorgeous spaces – and her team are so lovely and kind, you can't help but feel like part of the Loxy's family. What you probably can't tell from looking at Loxy's now is that it started off with Kate – who was at the time working in the corporate world at an ad agency – doing hair extensions for friends and family in a shed in her garden – and has now grown to 2 salons in Auckland, 1 in Wellington along the way, as well as an at-home clip in extension range – which we didn't get get round to talking about as there was too much good stuff to cover in one short episode! Make sure you follow the Loxy's gang on Instagram (@loxysnz) and check out their website to book in advance for post-lockdown now (www.loxys.co.nz).
Mon, 13 Apr 2020 - 42min - 2 - Shut Up & Dance // Episode 1
This week we're kicking off with Shut Up and Dance // Episode 1! A Wellington dance company like no other, where you learn routines from music videos and movies, with dimmed lights, loud music, no mirrors and lots of LOLs. Hear about how Abby, Lesa and Clair met in Wellington and bought SU&D to life over drinks at Goldings Free Dive and dinner at Loretta. Find out their plans for global domination, and how they're getting through the Lockdown one day at a time, taking their famous classes online for the first time (for free!). Join Abby, Lesa and Clair to POP Grace's podcast cherry and let's get this show on the road!
Tue, 07 Apr 2020 - 47min - 1 - Pep Talk // Pilot Episode
On this quick Pilot Episode of the brand new Pep Talk Podcast, we'll meet host Grace Kreft - find out why she's such a business geek and why she decided to start Pep Talk during the National Lockdown in April 2020. Pep Talk is a space to celebrate and support our local New Zealand businesses during tough times due to Covid-19. Hope you can come along for the ride! Grace x
Tue, 07 Apr 2020 - 05min
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