Category: The Podcast Series

Jonathan – Jono – Trenberth is a Businessman, Content Creator, freelancer writer & dog enthusiast.

He is the Owner and Director of Pooped, which has seen much success + expansion. This business has become a pillar of his day-to-day purpoe and a source for true, authentic joy. The word Authentic will come up a lot during this korero.

Many may of first heard about Jono during The Amazing Race: Australia New Zealand, or perhaps from the 2019 season of Married At First Sight NZ, or even when flicking through a magazine as seen his modeling at work! Jono has frequented our screens & pages being managed by talent specialists outspoken by odd – however, this is just one part of his full life.

Jono has traveled the world, spending time in Italy, Australia, and Honk Kong as an adventure education teacher; and is passionate about NZ Aotearoa’s beautiful landscapes too.

During our chat we cover SO many topics – from his first experiences with Tall Poppy, the journey to accepting himself authentically, feeling rock bottom and then taking action over his life, the impact of reality TV, and his complicated relationship with social media.

Listen to the full interview on Spotify, iHeart Radio, or Apple Podcasts.

#contentcreator #dog #business #owner #mafs #realitytv #creator #authentic #fyp #socialmedia #nz #mentalperformance #podcast #tallpoppytalk #mentalhealthmatters #aotearoa #newzealand

Julia Vahry is the Founder and Managing Director of Vahry Insurance, an Actress, Former Police Officer, New Zealand’s top female insurance leader 2023, Finalist – The Traitors NZ, and a motivational speaker.

As a sworn police officer for nearly a decade, Julia built a strong reputation for being resilient, high energy, and brilliantly insightful. Making her move from the police force to being a business owner and later actor, all these skills have proven extremely valuable.

Since 2016, Vahry Insurance has taken major strides and grown exponentially, hence being recognized as one of the most influential life and health brokers in New Zealand. Their focus is on creating impact through credibility, innovation and influence. And to shape better futures.

Understandably, Vahry has taken home many awards including but not limited to the AIA NZ National Community Service Award in 2022, Most Influential Upcomer, Dame Valerie Adam’s AIA Vitality Winner, and Top Performer multiple times. Julia is an ambassador and volunteer. Licensed financial advice provider. And, a member of the Institute of Directors and Board Member for Animal Evac New Zealand.

With a competitive spirit that led her to perform on the national stage for track cycling, cross-country mountain biking, and freestyle skiing; it’s no surprise that In 2023, Julia dove head-first into her acting career, signing with Auckland Actors and taking on formal training with The National Screen Acting School of Ireland and the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama with the University of London this year.

She also spent years as a Ski Instructor in New Zealand and the United States too! How fun!

Listen to the full interview on Spotify, iHeart Radio, or Apple Podcasts.

#insurance #financialadvisor #traitors #nz #mentalskills #police #advice #highperformance #policewoman #actress #actor #mentalperformance #podcast #tallpoppytalk #mentalhealthmatters #newzealand #finance #business #community #aotearoa

Today we welcome back the highly celebrated and brilliant Performance Psychologist Rod Corban.

Rod is the Director at RMC Performance Psychology and a Senior Psychologist with High-Performance Sport New Zealand.

With over 30 years of experience as an academic in the field of psychology, and 20 years working in high performance sport New Zealand – Rod truly embodies the balance of theory and practice. He helps people to understand how their brain works and why change is hard, but not impossible.

During this episode he provides many tangible takeaways and insights (that had me going ‘ohh’ quite often).

Having attended multiple Olympic and Paralympic Games, working with sports such as rowing, cycling, hockey, netball, cricket and more, Rod is well-versed in the realm of elite performance.

With great opportunity comes great pressure, and he is the person you want in your corner to support whatever pursuit you’re endeavoring in.

He specializes in athlete and coach support, with an interest in brain injury and its impact not only on the individual but those around them.

Listen to the full interview on Spotify, iHeart Radio, or Apple Podcasts.

#sports #pyschology #performance #pysch #mentalskills #sportspyschology #advice #highperformance #sport #elite #athlete #mentalperformance #podcast #tallpoppytalk #mentalhealthmatters #newzealand #brain #olympic #paralympic #aotearoa

As the saying goes, Kelly Kraiss has many feathers to her bow. NCAA D1 coach, advocate, professor, scholar (PhD), and an athlete. Kelly is currently an Assistant Coach with The University of Alabama’s rowing crew and is a part-time professor.

We spend a lot of this episode diving into her various passions in life – special education, rowing, advocacy, and family. Her personality is immeditely infectious and welcoming, and I ask how these notable traits may sometimes come in conflict with the stereotypical characteristics given to ‘serious’ coaches/leaders. & of course her answers are wonderful! Being feminine, intelligent and friendly, are what make her such an impactful advocate & coach.

Growing up in Florida, Kelly became immersed in the rowing world which would eventually lead her to row NCAA D1 at the University of Tennessee, before moving into her role as coach for the USRowing High-Performance, and Olympic Development Camps, at Rutgers (go RU!), and for masters, highschool, novice and collegiate D1 athletes. She has consistently produced NCAA Division 1 and US National Team athletes, some going on to medal on the world stage.

Alongside her rowing career, Kelly continued educating herself and working in the special education field. Earning a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, a master’s in exceptional education, and a Ph.D. in education… and also graduated from Brooklyn Law School. As someone fortunate enough to know Kelly, I understand that of all her accomplishments being a sister, daughter, and friend are her most treasured.

Listen to the full interview on Spotify, iHeart Radio, or Apple Podcasts.

#rowing #alabama #rolltide #coach #row #specialeducation #community #advocate #phd #mentalperformance #podcast #tallpoppytalk #mentalhealthmatters #newzealand #teaching #athlete

Jessie O’Brien is a musician, youth & family worker, NZ Idol & Amazing Race contestant, and father. During this korero, Jessie shares his family motto of “don’t live life with what ifs.” This approach to life has led to some pretty incredible opportunities and experiences for Jessie, including competing on New Zealand Idol and The Amazing Race.

During the day he works with youth & families within a school, and then spends most weekends with his family and performing at gigs or special events as a musician. Or even being a celebrant (shout out esp. because after recording we put two-and-two together that Jessie married my sister Paige (& Josh) in the most beautiful ceremony!).

Jessie has been heavily involved in the community and during this interview was able to share observations about Tall Poppy Syndrome within schools; and how impactful social media is not only on our youth but for adults too.

One topic of great interest was our deep dive on the neural pathways formed in response to positive and negative external feedback – and what can be done to re-wire them. Having experienced so much and come across a wide range of people, Jesse excudes an energy of “bring it on!”

He is passionate, enthusiatic, caring, and above all is extremley generous with his time. Helping our Rangatahi in particular with skills of mindfulness, music, and confidence building for whatever they wish to pursue.

Family is a huge source of joy and purpose for Jessie, it was a pleasure to hear about his journey of fatherhood briefly too.

Listen to the full interview on Spotify, iHeart Radio, or Apple Podcasts.

#rolemodel #youthworker #youth #musician #life #kiwi #community #advice #parenting #mentalperformance #podcast #tallpoppytalk #mentalhealthmatters #aotearoa #newzealand #maori #rangatahi #socialmedia #hamilton #dad #nz #idol #amazingrace

Jennifer Dunne Keeney is an absolute force of nature across many fields. She’s a Broadway Performer on NYC classic ‘Chicago.’ A Visual Artist, Podcaster & student currently earning a Master of Communication and Media at Rutgers University.

Within the arts, Jenn has performed in numerous Broadway shows, national tours, international productions, music videos, television appearances such as the Tony Awards and Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

She’s a skilled, extremely talented visual artist and has added to her ever-growing list of credits her role as photographic retoucher with work gracing the pages of major global publications such as Vogue, W Magazine, Elle and Glamor.

With an endless curiosity and ‘need to tinker,’ she has become a high-performer in may respects. Including as a Mom, partner, and friend, because she truly values the innate need for human connection.

We dive into her many insights that come from being on Broadway, pursuing a career with such limited ‘jobs,’ and what drives her ambition. Her ‘how’ continues to change, and shes totally okay with that, in fact she embraces that.

Thrilled to introduce Jenn to the Tall Poppy Talk community!

Listen to the full interview on Spotify, iHeart Radio, or Apple Podcasts.

#broadway #broadwayperformer #performer #dancer #singer #actress #chicago #newyorkcity #mentalperformance #podcast #tallpoppytalk #mentalhealthmatters #aotearoa #newzealand #tallpoppytalk #america #photographicretoucher #rutgers #tonyawards #stephencolbert #mom