Stretton Unfiltered
Welcome to Stretton Unfiltered. The podcast where fashion, purpose, and unapologetic conversation meet. Hosted by Annah and Sami Stretton, this series takes you behind the seams of a legacy brand and a powerful social impact journey, sharing the stories, lessons, and voices that inspire change.
Episodes
Ep 37: Annah Went To Prison... In Europe. Here’s What She Found
Annah went to Norway and Scotland with one question: what happens when prison becomes more than simply somewhere we detain women? RAW independently funded the research, taking Annah inside Skien Women’s Prison in Norway and HMP Stirling in Scotland, two women’s prisons taking thought-leading approaches to detention. What she found was opportunity embedded into the day. Work. Education. Skills. Rel
Ep 36: She Left School Early. Then Reinvented Education.
Frances Valintine left school early and didn’t make it to university until her 40s. She then went on to become one of New Zealand’s most influential voices in technology and education, building The Mind Lab, Tech Futures Lab and academyEX, and challenging some pretty entrenched ideas about when, where and how we’re supposed to learn. But this isn’t really a conversation about tech. It’s about what
Ep 35: She Survived Coercive Control…Then Started Building A Way Out Of It
This is not an easy listen… but it's an important one. In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, Annah sits down with Krystal, a woman she has walked alongside for over a decade through RAW, to trace the relationship back to where it began… in a safe house, in the middle of active addiction, at the start of what RAW would eventually become.Krystal shares what it was like being born into crisis,
Ep 34: Three Generations of Working Mums: What It Actually Takes
New Zealand's conversation around motherhood and work has suddenly become political again, with paid parental leave now firmly on the election agenda. But beyond the politics, what does making motherhood and work coexist actually look like?Annah and Sami take the conversation into lived experience, tracing three generations of working motherhood through Vicki, Annah and now Sami. From raising
Ep 33: Whose Problem Is Meth, Really? One Woman’s Story of Abuse, Addiction and the Systems Around Her
There is no shortage of opinions about methamphetamine in New Zealand. Another headline. Another police operation. Another devastated family. Another community asking how things got so bad.But there's one voice that's almost always missing from that conversation: the people who have actually lived it.In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, Annah sits down with Ina, who has been part of the
Ep 32: He killed a man at 18. But that's not the most interesting part of his story
At 18, Paul Wood killed his drug dealer and was convicted of murder. He spent more than a decade in prison serving a life sentence, where he chose a path that very few thought possible. While incarcerated, he completed an undergraduate degree, a master's degree and began the work that would eventually lead to a doctorate in organisational psychology.Today, Paul is one of New Zealand's most
Ep 31: The Children New Zealand Chose Not To Believe
For more than thirty years, human rights lawyer Sonja Cooper has stood beside survivors of abuse in state and psychiatric care, people whose stories were ignored for decades.In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, Sonja and Annah explore what happens when the very institutions meant to protect children become the source of lifelong trauma.Together they discuss the fight for justice, the reality of
Ep 30: Still Curious - The Secret To Staying Relevant As You Age
Curiosity doesn't come with an expiry date, but somewhere along the way, a lot of us stop giving ourselves permission to try something new. This is a conversation about staying curious, at any age, and why getting older doesn't mean getting stuck.In this Stretton Unfiltered short, Annah sit's down with Rose, senior manager of the Wellington Annah Stretton store. Nineteen years into a c
Ep 29: She Lost Everything. Twice. And Built It Again.
One phone call changed everything. Cushla Reed's overseas factory had been seized overnight. Her stock, her equipment, her patterns, years of work, all suddenly locked behind someone else's doors.That single moment is the centre of this conversation, but it's not really the story. The real story is what Cushla lost on the way to building one of New Zealand's most recognised footwea
Ep 28: The Decisions That Kept Us in Business for 34 Years
One phone call changed everything.Annah thought her biggest wholesale customer wanted a catch-up. Instead, they ended the relationship, leaving her with a van full of fabric and a business that suddenly needed a completely new direction.It wasn't the last time the business would have to reinvent itself.In this episode, Annah and Sami reflect on the defining decisions that have shaped the compa
Ep: 27 She Built What the Health System Couldn't: The True Colours Story
For more than twenty-two years, Dr Cynthia Ward has quietly stood beside families experiencing every parent's worst fear.As the founder of True Colours Children's Health Trust, she has built one of New Zealand's most respected children's support organisations, providing counselling, nursing care and education for children living with life-limiting illness and the families who love them. Remarkably
She Built What the Health System Couldn't: The True Colours Story *Short*
For more than twenty-two years, Dr Cynthia Ward has quietly stood beside families experiencing every parent's worst fear. As the founder of True Colours Children's Health Trust, she has built one of New Zealand's most respected children's support organisations, providing counselling, nursing care and education for children living with life-limiting illness and the families who love
Ep 26: 97% of Their Revenue Vanished Overnight. Flight Coffee Didn't.
How do you build one of New Zealand’s most recognised coffee brands in a market already crowded with hundreds of roasters?This week on Stretton Unfiltered, I talk to Nick Clark, co-founder of Flight Coffee, about the reality behind the brand.The wins. The near losses. The reinvention. The brutal COVID hit. The move from café to wholesale, supermarkets, pods, canned coffee and The Hangar in Welling
Ep 25: I Built a Business Without AI. Could I Do It Again Today?
Will AI Replace You or Make You Richer? What if you're already being outperformed by AI and don't even know it?Artificial Intelligence is no longer coming. It's here, quietly reshaping business, education, creativity, retail, and the way we work every day. The real question is whether you're using it or being left behind by those who are.In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, Annah sits down with
Ep 24: We Followed Every Content Rule We Knew. Our Reach Dropped Anyway.
Social media strategy is one of the most searched topics for small business owners right now, and for good reason. The rules keep changing, the platforms keep shifting, and businesses that stop learning risk becoming invisible.In this episode, Annah and Sami get honest about the social media journey behind a 34-year-old fashion brand finding its feet in a world where video is king, authenticity is
Ep23: How I Stopped Prison Becoming My Family Legacy
Before the justice system ever entered her life, Gail Maney had already survived more than most people face in a lifetime. Domestic violence, poverty, sexual abuse, addiction, and a childhood that never gave her a fair shot. Then in 1997, police charged her with a murder she had absolutely nothing to do with, built on fabricated testimony, witness coercion, and a justice system that failed her at
Ep 22: The Human Cost Of The Gender Debate | Mary Haddock-Staniland
For more than 20 years, Annah Stretton has known Mary Haddock-Staniland not as a political talking point, but simply as a friend.In this deeply personal and timely conversation, Mary shares her journey as one of New Zealand’s most prominent transgender advocates, media personalities, and diversity leaders, reflecting on identity, belonging, respect, and the emotional impact of seeing transgender l
Ep 21: She Launched a Lipstick Brand in the Middle of a Global Financial Crash
She grew up in Te Awamutu, lost a business partner, started over more than once, fought counterfeiters all the way to China's Supreme Court, and built one of New Zealand's most recognised natural lipstick brands sold across Australia, China, the US and beyond.In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, Annah sits down with Karen Murrell, the founder behind the iconic Karen Murrell lipstick brand, for
Ep 7: The Wins, The Losses - 34 Years of Building Annah Stretton
We have re-recorded this episode in celebration of the Annah Stretton brand turning thirty-four. Thirty-four years of building the Annah Stretton clothing brand is worth celebrating. But behind the brand sits a woman who has never been able to stop at just one idea. In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, Annah sits down with her daughter Sami to take an honest look at the ventures that have run a
Ep 20: Matt Stark on Losing $1M and Reshaping Hamilton
At 23, he lost a million dollars.By 24, he was mowing lawns.What followed was a rebuild from the ground up, from liquidation talks, bank meetings that changed everything, and a decision to keep going when most people would have stopped.In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, we sit down with Matt Stark, property developer behind some of Hamilton’s most recognisable spaces, including Riverbank Lan
Ep 19: Breaking The Cycle Of Crime – 12 Yrs Inside Prison With NZ's Most Complex Women
In Episode 19 of Stretton Unfiltered, we take you inside 12 years of working within women’s prisons and the reality of what it takes to break the cycle of crime. This is the story behind RAW, Reclaim Another Woman. A model built not from theory, but from working alongside some of the most complex, high-risk women in New Zealand. Women, many had normalised criminal lifestyles and outcomes Since 201
Ep 18: 37 Years In Prison…Rebuilding A Life After Incarceration
This is not an easy listen… but it’s an important one. In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, Annah sits down with Missy Wepper to unpack a life shaped by trauma, survival, addiction, and ultimately, accountability. From early childhood abuse and life in state care… to years inside the prison system… to navigating life on the outside after decades institutionalised, Missy shares her story with a
Ep 17: She Turned “Too Old” Into a Business
In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, Annah sits down with New Zealand Silver Fox Modelling Agency owner Rebecca Swaney for a conversation that goes far beyond modelling. From buying a business on instinct to building a nationally recognised agency representing women 30+ and beyond, Rebecca shares the reality of backing yourself, learning on the fly, and creating space in an industry that histor
Ep 16: Haley Bicknell & Punnet Cafe: Booked Out To Burnt Out
What does it take to create a business that people will go out of their way for, and keep coming back to? In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, Annah sits down with Haley Bicknell, owner of Punnet, a rural café in Tamahere that has quietly become one of the Waikato’s most enduring and consistently busy destinations. Not because it follows the rules, but because it breaks them. From its beginning
Ep 15: From Fear to Freedom - Nikki’s Story
What does it really look like to love someone through chaos… and still find your way back to yourself? In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, we sit down with Nikki, her story will stay with you long after the conversation ends.From a stable upbringing to a life shaped by low self-worth, abusive relationships, and years of fear, Nikki bravely shares what it was like to live inside a world that fe
Ep 14: Holding It All Together Until It Falls Apart - Nadene's Journey
Some of the women who fall the hardest…are the ones holding everything together. From the outside, it can look like capability. Success. Control. But underneath, it can be pressure. Responsibility. And decisions made quietly, just to get through. In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, Nadene shares the story behind what happens when that pressure builds over time… and eventually gives way. Not al
Ep 13: Inside The Annah Stretton Retail Experience
Some days in retail are about beautiful clothes.But at Annah Stretton, it has always been about something much more. In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, Annah and Sami sit down with Angela Gilmour, who spent 17 years in their flagship Christchurch store, to take you inside the Annah Stretton retail experience. This is a brand built on the belief that clothing should be designed not just for a
Ep 12: Passion, Pivot & Closure – A Chat With Millie Rose On Building, Thriving, And Letting Go
What does it take to build something special? To dream up a space that's part cupcake haven, part fashion sanctuary, all heart, and actually pull it off?In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, we sit down with Millie Rose founder, dreamer, doer, and the unstoppable force behind Millie Rose Boutique in Timaru. From emailing her way into her very first supplier relationship, to baking through the ni
EP11 : Give To Gain - Happy International Women's Day
International Women’s Day got us thinking.About women. About impact. About purpose. And about why Life Changing Clothes has always meant so much more than fashion.In this episode of Stretton Unfiltered, we unpack a simple idea that has shaped so much of what we doGive to Gain.Not financial gain.Not applause.Not recognition.But the kind of gain that comes from showing up for other women. From backi
Ep 10: The Launch Of Sisterhood Social
This week on Stretton Unfiltered, Sami and Annah dive into the story behind Sisterhood Social, a new platform designed to help women over 40 build meaningful friendships and connections.Fresh off the back of their very first Sisterhood Social event, they reflect on what happened when nearly 40 women walked into a room full of strangers and left feeling connected, inspired, and part of something bi
EP: 9 The Lovely Chat - Catering For Curves In Fashion
In this timely and honest conversation, Annah and Sami unpack the realities of catering for curvy women in fashion. From the early days of their dedicated “GARB” label to today’s fully integrated size range, they reflect on what inclusion truly means and how their approach has evolved.Sparked by recent industry conversations around size ranges and commercial pressures, this episode explores the ec
Ep 8: Birds of a Feather: Retail That Built A Community. With Special Guest Phoenix Renata
Annah and Sami reconnect with makeup creative Phoenix to trace a 20-year journey from neighbouring Newmarket shops to Fashion Week runways and the Birds of a Feather concept stores that fused beauty, fashion, coffee, and connection. They unpack why experiential retail still wins, the realities of staffing, and the power of store traditions and ladies nights. A masterclass in partnership, purpose,
The 24 Hour Pause...
Episode 6 - The art of difficult conversationsTough talks land better when you’re clear-headed. Take a breather and respond when you’ve had time to think. Sami and Annah share their expertise and lessons learnt navigating tough conversations in Episode 6 of Stretton Unfiltered, out now!
Ep 6: The Art Of Difficult Conversations
How do you tackle the conversations no one wants to have? In this candid chat, Annah and Sami unpack the messy, human, and surprisingly empowering side of difficult conversations. From leadership moments to smelly summer scenarios, family dynamics to customer service meltdowns, they share their go to tools for turning tough talks into positive outcomes.This episode explores:• Why avoiding hard con
Ep5. Olive’s Kitchen: How We Took Our Dog’s Health Journey And Grew A Pet Wellness Brand
When Olive, Annah’s beloved white boxer, was diagnosed with cancer, it sparked more than a fight to save one dog’s life. It ignited the beginnings of a pet wellness movement. In this episode, Annah and Sami sit down with holistic vet Dr Heidi Ward-McGrath to unpack how a personal health crisis turned into the birth of Olive’s Kitchen, a New Zealand pet brand built on the belief that good food is g
Ep 4. The Love - Hate Life Of Social Media: Authenticity, Body Confidence And The Courage To be Real
In this refreshingly honest conversation, Sami & Annah sit down with Camille Guzzwell . Waikato’s radio firecracker and long-time friend of the Annah Stretton brand, to unpack the rollercoaster world of social media. From the nostalgia of Bebo and Facebook’s early days to the pressures of today’s online perfection, they dive deep into authenticity, body positivity, and the power of community.C
Ep 3. How one Phone Call Sparked Our Biggest Pivot Yet, The Annah Stretton COVID Story
A fashion label on “struggle street” becomes an essentialbusiness in days. Annah and Sami take you inside the chaos, from sewing machines firing up to 15,000 mask packs sold in a single day, and how the pivot not only saved the business but reignited it's relevance.We want to acknowledge that while our story reflects moments of humour, pivoting, and unexpected success, the COVID period was an
Ep.2 Fashion Week Faux Pas: The Boar’s Head, The Backlash, and the Buzz
From War Bride in 2002 to the infamous boar’s head and PETA protests, we unpack 13 years of Annah Stretton at New Zealand Fashion Week. Annah and Sami revisit the highs, the stinging criticism, the resilience it demanded, and the wild moments that made headlines (and sometimes chaos).It’s a raw, behind-the-scenes look at what really happens when creativity meets controversy on the catwalkNB: Pleas
Ep.1 From Idea to Reality: Building a Fashion Brand
In this inaugural episode of Stretton Unfiltered, Annah and Sami Stretton share the unfiltered journey of building a fashion brand from the ground up, losing a nearly $5million relationship and how we recovered. Discussing the challenges faced, the importance of making a start, and the evolution of the Annah Stretton brand and the MAJOR learning curves along the way. We dive into the significance
