The Dom Harvey Podcast

Molly Spark is a 22 year old from Canterbury, and she spends her spare time doing things that sound like a PTSD inducing nightmare for most of us: Her sport is multi-day expedition races through mountains, rivers, forests and bush. You may have heard of the iconic event called Godzone- it got a bit of mainstream coverage after Richie McCaw took part a few years ago- that’s an expedition race.1000km in a week. Sleep deprivation. Hallucinations. Limited food. Carrying everything you need in a backpack. Navigating with a map and compass. And the wild part? She LIVES for this stuff. She is built different. This podcast is a small part of the Molly Spark story. We talk about resilience, fear, suffering, hallucinations, sleep deprivation, near-death moments, and why she genuinely believes discomfort is one of the best things a person can experience. There is also a great story about how Richie McCaw almost killed her.This is one of my favourite podcasts so far- partly because the sport of expedition racing itself is so wild, but mostly because Molly is such a firecracker. She just oozes positivity and joy. This chat definitely didn’t make me want to become an expedition racer….but it did make me wish Molly was my friend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Greg Newbold is best known as one of New Zealand’s top criminologists. He spent 30 years at Canterbury University and became to go-to guy whenever the main stream media wanted someone to comment on crime.But his back story is jaw dropping. In the 1970s, when Greg was in his early 20s, he was a heroin user and dealer, socialising in the same circles as New Zealand’s most infamous drug dealer, Terry Clarke aka Mr Asia. He eventually got busted and was sentenced to seven-and-a-half-years in prison.Then somehow… he comes out the other side, gets a PhD and completely reinvented himself as one of New Zealand’s leading criminologists and university professors. And he has just put out a new book too called Dream Dealer. https://www.paperplus.co.nz/shop/books/non-fiction/biography-memoir/dream-dealerIn this conversation, Greg opens up about how he became addicted to heroin, the reality of life at Paremoremo maximum security prison back then, and the surprising lessons he learned about human nature while locked up alongside some of the country’s most notorious criminals.At nearly 75 years old, Greg’s still running, swimming, lifting weights, and reflecting on a life that’s been chaotic, controversial, and ultimately incredibly fulfilling.***Massive thanks to my long‑term podcast sponsor, Generate. Like a lot of Kiwis, I spent years saying, “I’ll look at my KiwiSaver account later.” Turns out later comes around faster than you think, and the decisions you make now could be the difference between counting every dollar in retirement or having the freedom to take that trip you've always talked about. I switched my KiwiSaver account to Generate after they came on board, and honestly, I should’ve done it sooner. They’re an award-winning KiwiSaver provider with strong long‑term performance. You can check out their latest returns online, or book a no‑obligation chat with one of their friendly advisers at generatekiwisaver.co.nz/dom. No pressure, no judgement — they’re just there to help wherever you’re at in your investing journey.  The issuer of the scheme is Generate Investment Management Limited. You can view their Product Disclosure Statement and Financial Advice Provider information at generatekiwisaver.co.nz/disclosures. Past performance does not guarantee future returns. And just a reminder — I’m a podcast host, not a financial adviser. This is general information only, and I recommend getting expert advice before making any financial decisions.  The views and opinions expressed by guests on The Dom Harvey Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcast, its producers, or any sponsors associated with the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guest is one of those people who quietly makes New Zealand a better place.Tony Scott (aka Scottie) has spent more than 30 years in the fire service. And for the past 8 years he has been Crew Chief at Auckland Airport.Chances are, even if you don’t know his name, you’ve seen the impact of his work.Scottie is the man behind the Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge: the iconic annual event where firefighters climb 1,103 steps in full gear to raise money for Blood Cancer New Zealand.  What started as a small idea with a handful of firefighters has now raised almost 20 million dollars for Kiwis battling cancers. And this episode is being released to coincide with the 21st anniversary of this iconic Kiwi fundraiserAs well as the Sky Tower challenge, we find out who Scotty is- his early years, the stutter he had to overcome to get the job of his dreams, the emotional toll of recovering bodies and saving lives, his reaction when he was awarded a Queens Service Medal and much more.After spending a couple of hours with Scottie, you discover pretty quickly that this isn’t about publicity or recognition for him. He’s just one of those genuinely good humans who gets a lot of fulfilment out of helping other people.There’s a lot of heart in this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are so lucky to have Dr Lucy Hone in New Zealand.She is one of the world’s leading voices on resilience and grief. Her TED Talk, Three Secrets of Resilient People, has been viewed more than 9 million times and is one of the most watched TED Talks in the world.She’s also a mother who endured the unimaginable loss of her 12-year-old daughter Abi in a car accident in 2014.In this episode we talk about Abi- who she was, what she loved, the life she might have lived… but we also go much deeper than that.We talk about how people survive the things they think will destroy them.Why grief isn’t something you just “get over.”And why the famous five stages of grief might actually be doing more harm than good.Lucy also opens up about forgiveness, parenting through trauma, post-traumatic growth and the reality of rebuilding a life after everything changes.This is a conversation about loss. But it’s also a conversation about living. And I’d like to think it is a tribute to the life of Abigail Anne Hone. A life that was cut tragically and painfully short.***  Massive thanks to my long‑term podcast sponsor, Generate. Your KiwiSaver account is one of those things that’s easy to set up and then completely ignore whilst you’re hoping it’s all working out in the background. I had a chat with a Generate KiwiSaver adviser when they came on as sponsor, and it genuinely gave me clarity on what it means to have a KiwiSaver plan, and whether mine was actually set up to perform over the long-term.  Generate is an award‑winning KiwiSaver provider with a strong track record of long‑term performance. You can check out their latest returns online, or book a no‑obligation chat with one of their advisers at generatekiwisaver.co.nz/dom. No pressure, just clear advice to help you feel confident you’re on track.The issuer of the scheme is Generate Investment Management Limited. To see their PDS and Financial Advice Provider info see generatekiwisaver.co.nz/disclosures. Past performance does not guarantee future returns. And remember, I’m not a financial adviser, so this is just general information. I recommend getting expert advice before making any financial decisions.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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