A quick warning before we get into this episode: this conversation includes discussion around gang life, drug use, childhood sexual abuse, mental health, suicide, and trauma. Please listen with care.

Lee Tepuia is a father of seven, a former Rebels Motorcycle Club member, a 501 deportee, and now a qualified youth worker helping vulnerable young people through the gym he founded in Blenheim called Box on Boxing.

And in 2026 he was awarded a Local Hero medal at the Kiwi Bank New Zealander of the year awards.

But that description barely scratches the surface.

Lee grew up carrying trauma most people could never imagine. He found brotherhood in gang life, spent years building a life in Australia, then had it ripped away when he was detained and deported back to New Zealand under Australia’s 501 laws, despite never being convicted of a crime there.

At his lowest point, Lee says he didn’t want to be here anymore.

But somehow, through boxing, therapy, community, and a decision to finally confront the pain he’d spent decades trying to outrun, he rebuilt his life from the ground up.

What struck me most about this conversation is that Lee doesn’t try to present himself as a saint. He owns his mistakes. He talks openly about addiction, violence, mental health, shame, and the consequences of his choices. But he also talks about redemption, purpose, and what it actually takes to change.

This is not a podcast about glorifying gangs.

It’s a conversation about trauma, survival, accountability, forgiveness, and hope.

Need to talk?

Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor

Lifeline 0800 543 354 or 09 522 2999 or free text 4357 (HELP)

Suicide Prevention Helpline 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOK0)

Youthline 0800 376 633 or free text 234

Samaritans 0800 726 666

Aoake Te Rā 0800 000 053 Bereaved by suicide service.

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Frank Bunce is regarded as one of the great All Black Centres of all time.

He first got selected when he was 30 and went on to play 55 tests, including a rugby world cup final.

At the time of recording this episode Frank was on TV in New Zealand on the reality show “Celebrity Treasure Island” so we discuss why, at the age of 64, he agreed to do it. Thanks to the team at TVNZ for helping set this conversation up.

I don’t think Buncey has ever spoken this openly or at this length ever before which makes this episode pretty special.

We talk about Franks journey from growing up in South Auckland with 7 siblings and working on the back of a rubbish truck to the world stage, representing both Samoa and the All Blacks and being part of the transformational shift from amateur rugby to the professional era.

There are some incredible rugby stories here- including his very special relationship with Jonah Lomu and Eric Rush and his love-hate relationship with coach Laurie Mains. But this episode goes far beyond sport.

Frank opens up about aging, identity, fatherhood, friendship, grief, retirement, and the emotional challenges that come when elite sport suddenly disappears.

This is a reflective and also very funny conversation with one of New Zealand sport’s great characters.

*****

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Flynn Chisholm, or as he is known by his 121,000 Instagram followers, "Fizzy Sends" is the New Zealand record holder in a breath-taking activity known as “death diving.”

He is also a speed climber. And at this time of releasing this episode he is about to attempt a record for the most pull ups.

Flynn is one of New Zealand’s most exciting extreme athletes.

In this podcast, Flynn shares the mindset, discipline, and faith behind a sport that most people (me included) don’t understand and can’t even comprehend.

Some of the stuff we discuss includes:

+ What death diving actually is. And why it’s growing worldwide

+ The mental process before stepping off a 40m cliff

+ How he assesses risk before taking each jump.

+ Why he doesn’t read comments and how he handles criticism

+ The injuries he’s faced (including temporary blindness and concussions) And much more.

This is one of those episodes where you will hopefully get a greater understanding about something you may not known much about.

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