<description>&lt;p&gt;For years, Mike McRoberts was the most recognisable and trusted face on New Zealand television, sitting at the 6pm news desk, delivering the biggest stories in the country. What most people never saw was where that job took him.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode of &lt;em&gt;Between Two Beers&lt;/em&gt;, Mike opens up about reporting from war zones, covering humanitarian disasters, and what it actually took - mentally and emotionally - to be the face of the news for so long.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;He reflects on moments that still stay with him years later, including being detained overseas, witnessing the aftermath of devastating earthquakes, and why the job became “a special kind of hell” at times. But this conversation goes deeper than war stories.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mike also speaks candidly about identity, growing up “culturally malnourished,” and how learning te reo Māori later in life forced him to confront parts of himself he’d long ignored. It’s an honest discussion about responsibility, belonging, and the personal toll of carrying other people’s stories for decades.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;This episode is brought to you by our proud sponsors TAB. Got a hunch? Get your bet on. Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

For years, Mike McRoberts was the most recognisable and trusted face on New Zealand television, sitting at the 6pm news desk, delivering the biggest stories in the country. What most people never saw was where that job took him. In this episode of Between Two Beers, Mike opens up about reporting from war zones, covering humanitarian disasters, and what it actually took - mentally and emotionally - to be the face of the news for so long. He reflects on moments that still stay with him years later, including being detained overseas, witnessing the aftermath of devastating earthquakes, and why the job became “a special kind of hell” at times. But this conversation goes deeper than war stories. Mike also speaks candidly about identity, growing up “culturally malnourished,” and how learning te reo Māori later in life forced him to confront parts of himself he’d long ignored. It’s an honest discussion about responsibility, belonging, and the personal toll of carrying other people’s stories for decades. This episode is brought to you by our proud sponsors TAB. Got a hunch? Get your bet on. Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Mike McRoberts: The Toll of the 6pm News

<description>&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;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 &amp;amp; Andy and Graham Norton.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;0:21 – The Popped Collar&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;8:10 – The New Year’s Eve Ordeal&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;11:15 – 2026 Goals&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;16:58 – AI Roasts our Goals&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;20:15 – Summer Content&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;34:00 – A Voice Note from Staffy&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;49:00 – Our Top 5 Dream Guests for 2026&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;54:50 – Our upcoming ep with Mike McRoberts&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;Featured in this episode: Check out our private documentary service at reflections.life to record your family stories before it’s too late.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;Subscribe for more behind-the-scenes insights from Between Two Beers!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Hambassadors

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 &amp; 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 Collar8:10 – The New Year’s Eve Ordeal11:15 – 2026 Goals16:58 – AI Roasts our Goals20:15 – Summer Content34:00 – A Voice Note from Staffy49:00 – Our Top 5 Dream Guests for 202654:50 – 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. Subscribe for more behind-the-scenes insights from Between Two Beers!<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Who’s Our Ultimate Guest? Exposing our 2026 Wish List

<description>&lt;p&gt;Greg Foran has led at a level very few people ever will.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;This is a rare, honest look at leadership when the stakes are real - and when getting it wrong isn’t an option.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;This episode is a re-release of our conversation with Greg Foran from 2025.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Re-Release

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.<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Greg Foran: Former CEO of Air NZ & Walmart US on Decisions That Affect Millions (Re-Release)

<description>&lt;p&gt;This week we’re re-releasing a classic episode with All Black legend Ali Williams, initially recorded in 2024.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;This episode is brought to you by our proud sponsors TAB - and Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

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.<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Ali Williams' Best All Blacks Stories, Launching Auckland FC & Losing His Father (Re-Release)

<description>&lt;p&gt;We’re back with another compilation of our favourite moments from the epic year that was 2025.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;This time, we’ve canvassed some highlights from our incredible guests across the realms of business, entertainment, and culture, including:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Simon Barnett&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Jay Reeve&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Toni Street&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Greg Foran&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Bill Bailey&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Girls Get Off&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Al Brown&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Jared Savage&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Brent Impey&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Dr. Alia Bojilova&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Geoff Ross&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We hope you enjoy the recap and stay tuned for brand new episodes coming soon, happy holidays!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p&gt;This episode is brought to you by our proud sponsors TAB - and Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;hr&gt;&lt;p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'&gt; Hosted on Acast. See &lt;a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'&gt;acast.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; for more information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

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: <ul><li>Simon Barnett</li><li>Jay Reeve</li><li>Toni Street</li><li>Greg Foran</li><li>Bill Bailey</li><li>Girls Get Off</li><li>Al Brown</li><li>Jared Savage</li><li>Brent Impey</li><li>Dr. Alia Bojilova</li><li>Geoff Ross</li></ul> 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.<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Best of 2025 - Culture: Simon Barnett, Toni Street, Al Brown & More!

Good questions. Great guests. Few beers... Steve and Seamus like asking good questions. And they love good answers. After over 20 years of friendship, they bought a microphone and started a podcast, allowing them to sit with, and learn from, the most interesting people they can access.From Kiwi legend Marc Ellis, to media personalities Jeremy Wells and Paddy Gower, Rugby coach extraordinaire Wayne Smith, sexologist Morgan Penn, and Olympian Dame Lisa Carrington...&nbsp;Between Two Beers has produced countless hours of incredible stories, career highs, lows and moments of raw vulnerability. And it’s only the beginning.Acast<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

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