Welcome back to a brand-new year of Hambassadors! We're kicking off 2026 with some "edgy" fashion choices, high-stakes goals, and a look at the guests we're manifesting for the year ahead.

In this episode, Seamus explains why he’s bringing back the Eric Cantona-inspired popped collar (and whether he cleared it with Barkers first). Meanwhile, Stephen shares a harrowing New Year’s Eve tale from Whangamatā involving cocktails, a beach trolley, and a police breathalyser checkpoint.

We also put our 2026 goals to the test by letting AI critique them. Things get personal when the AI roasts Steve’s "operationally empty" fatherhood goals and his "content sabotage" betting strategy. Plus, we reveal our 2026 Guest Hitlist, featuring everyone from Jimmy Carr to Hamish & Andy and Graham Norton.

Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers and this episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on.

0:21 – The Popped Collar

8:10 – The New Year’s Eve Ordeal

11:15 – 2026 Goals

16:58 – AI Roasts our Goals

20:15 – Summer Content

34:00 – A Voice Note from Staffy

49:00 – Our Top 5 Dream Guests for 2026

54:50 – Our upcoming ep with Mike McRoberts

Featured in this episode: Check out our private documentary service at reflections.life to record your family stories before it’s too late.

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Greg Foran has led at a level very few people ever will.

From running Walmart US - a business with over a million employees - to serving as CEO of Air New Zealand through some of its most challenging years, Greg has made decisions where the consequences affected millions of people.

In this conversation, Greg takes us inside what that responsibility actually feels like. We talk about making calls that wipe billions off company value, leading through crisis and chaos, operating in China when the rulebook doesn’t apply, and why losing the top job earlier in his career ended up changing everything.

We also dive into his mindset: fear of failure, discipline, curiosity, people-first leadership, and why paying and trusting frontline workers matters more than most executives realise.

This is a rare, honest look at leadership when the stakes are real - and when getting it wrong isn’t an option.

This episode is a re-release of our conversation with Greg Foran from 2025.

This episode is brought to you by our proud sponsors TAB, download the new app today and get your bet on! Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.

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This week we’re re-releasing a classic episode with All Black legend Ali Williams, initially recorded in 2024.

At the time of recording, Ali had recently launched Auckland FC with his wife Anna Mowbray, so we dive deep into his goals and vision for the team (much of which has come to fruition since). We also go into the best stories from across his rugby and All Blacks career, as well as an open conversation about the loss of his father.

This episode is brought to you by our proud sponsors TAB - and Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.

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We’re back with another compilation of our favourite moments from the epic year that was 2025.

This time, we’ve canvassed some highlights from our incredible guests across the realms of business, entertainment, and culture, including:

• Simon Barnett
• Jay Reeve
• Toni Street
• Greg Foran
• Bill Bailey
• Girls Get Off
• Al Brown
• Jared Savage
• Brent Impey
• Dr. Alia Bojilova
• Geoff Ross

We hope you enjoy the recap and stay tuned for brand new episodes coming soon, happy holidays!

This episode is brought to you by our proud sponsors TAB - and Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.

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What a year! We’ve had the privilege of speaking to some of New Zealand’s best and brightest sporting stars in 2025, so we’re proud to present a compilation of some of our favourite moments from across the year, including:

• Steve Williams
• Ryan Fox
• Dame Noeline Taurua
• Ian Foster
• Marius van der Pol
• Sarah Walker
• Sean Fitzpatrick
• Gilbert Enoka
• Clayton McMillan
• Gordon Walker

We hope you enjoy the recap, stay tuned for another Best of 2025 episode coming next week too!

This episode is brought to you by our proud sponsors TAB - and Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.

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It’s the final Hambassadors episode of the year, and Seamus drops a bombshell.

After keeping it quiet for nine months, Seamus reveals he’s had a baby, sharing what life has been like behind the scenes and how he managed to keep such a massive moment under wraps.

The boys also take time to reflect on the year that’s been - the highs, the challenges, what they’ve learned, and how Hambassadors has grown along the way. Most importantly, they say a huge thank you to everyone who’s listened, supported, and been part of the journey in 2025.

Enjoy, and we’ll see you in the new year. 🍻

Hambassadors is brought to you by Stark and Between Two Beers is brought to you by our proud sponsors TAB.

Steve and Seamus are dressed by Barkers.

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This week we’re re-releasing one of our most powerful and memorable episodes of the year - a conversation that many of our new listeners may have missed when it first came out. Dr Alia Bojilova is the former Lead Psychologist of the New Zealand SAS, a United Nations peacekeeper, bestselling author of The Resilience Toolkit, and one of the most remarkable humans we’ve ever had on the show.

In this episode, Alia takes us inside the extraordinary story of the time she was taken hostage by Syrian rebels while serving with the UN, and how she used curiosity, composure and human connection to survive an ordeal with almost no chance of escape. But this conversation goes far beyond the hostage event. We explore her upbringing in post-communist Bulgaria, elite athletic career, the science behind resilience, her relationship with her husband Jamie (an SAS soldier and former BTB guest), motherhood, leadership, identity, and the psychology of navigating adversity.

It’s an episode that has stayed with listeners long after they finished it - and with so many new followers discovering Between Two Beers, we wanted to bring it back into the spotlight.

If you’re new to the show, this is one of the most compelling stories we’ve told. If you heard it the first time, it’s well worth revisiting. Enjoy this special re-release with Dr Alia Bojilova.

This episode is brought to you by our proud sponsors TAB - and Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.

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It’s our last episode of ABO for 2025!

Steve and Di look back on a defining year of podcasting and the lessons that will shape what comes next. From finding flow state and working as an introvert, to protecting creative energy, navigating pressure, and building a sustainable pace.

Steve opens up about the personal and professional growth he’s experienced through the OMP business course from the Icehouse, how his approach to creative work has shifted, and why the next year is less about doing more and more about doing what matters.

We also chat about prioritising wellbeing, avoiding burnout, creating space for creativity, and maintaining purpose.

Thank you to everyone who tuned into the show this year, we love what we’re building and can’t wait to be back in 2026!

This episode is brought to you by our proud sponsors TAB - and Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.