Fifteen years ago, an ordinary summer day became one of the darkest moments in New Zealand’s history.

In this deeply personal tribute to his hometown of Christchurch, Jason Beardsley recounts where he was when the February 22, 2011 earthquake struck, the terrifying hours that followed, and the long years of aftershocks, uncertainty, and grief that reshaped a city and its people forever.

This episode explores:

• The reality of living through thousands of aftershocks
• The hidden mental toll long after the cameras left
• The loss of identity when landmarks and memories vanish
• The extraordinary community spirit that carried the city forward
• How a broken city rebuilt itself into something new

From liquefaction-covered streets to pop-up art installations, from fear to pride, this is the story of a city that refused to stay down.

Christchurch isn’t just a disaster story. It’s a resilience story.

Kia Ora Christchurch. Kia Kaha.

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Dan Joyce has spent his life navigating trauma, care, responsibility and the quiet weight of burnout.

In this episode, Dan opens up about becoming a foster carer at a young age, and how working with trauma affected young people throughout his career reshaped his identity, empathy and view of the world.

We talk honestly about his childhood experiences, emotional exhaustion, the misunderstood reality of teenagers in care, and the moment Dan realised he needed to redesign his life before regret caught up with him.

This is a raw, thoughtful conversation about mental health, burnout, time, freedom and the courage it takes to choose a different path. If you’ve ever felt stretched thin, trapped by responsibility, or worried about missing the good moments in life, this one will hit home.

For more, please visit www.bigcallspod.com.au

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Thirteen and a half years ago, I crossed the ditch with a suitcase, and a dream.

Today, I became an Australian citizen.

This episode is about belonging.

I reflect on growing up in New Zealand, idolising Australia through sport, music and culture, surviving the Christchurch earthquakes, and starting again in Melbourne at 21 with no job, no network, and a lot of self doubt.

It’s a short story about rejection, growth, and the quiet moment you realise home isn’t where you were born. It’s where you’re built.

This is a thank you to my home, Australia.

For more, please visit www.bigcallspod.com.au
Want to sponsor Dropped Balls and Big Calls in 2026? Visit www.bigcallspod.com.au/support

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