Hunger & Heart with Kaila Colbin
Hunger & Heart is a podcast hosted by entrepreneur Kaila Colbin about combining wild ambition with fierce compassion. Colbin challenges the idea that you must choose between empathy and effectiveness, interviewing high-performing athletes who maintain their values while achieving at the top level. The conversations offer insights that apply to sports, work, and everyday life. Colbin is the founder and CEO of Boma, an organization that develops intentional leaders and created the Crusaders Leadership Programme.
Episodes
McLaren's First Female Driver On Crashing At 120km/h - And Getting Back In
In 2016 Emma Gilmour became the first woman to win a round of the New Zealand Rally Championship, and in 2022 she became the first woman to drive for McLaren Racing, racing electric off-road buggies in Extreme E. She has rolled at speed twice and been knocked out twice: at Whangārei in 2007 and in Sardinia in 2023. She still races, and runs her family's car dealership in her hometown of Dunedi
She Started As An Intern. Now She Has One Of The Biggest Jobs At This Global Sports Brand
Rachel Howard is a footballer who debuted for New Zealand at 20, against Team USA, in front of a stadium that spent the second half chanting her name — but not in a good way.She went on to play a World Cup and an Olympic Games where she never took the field at either.She's now the General Manager of Adidas Pacific, responsible for around a thousand people across Australia, New Zealand and the
Sir Graham Henry On Failure, Ego And Handing Over Control
Sir Graham Henry has the best win record in All Blacks history - but there was a moment in the early stages when he almost walked away from it all.In 2001, as the highest-paid rugby coach in the world, he lost a Lions series he expected to win. He hit a wall, resigned, and moved back to New Zealand. Six months later he took a job as a provincial assistant coach.He went from making $1 million a yea
Olympian Sam Dakin On OCD, Nerves And What Gold Is Actually Worth
For two years, the same question repeated in Sam Dakin's head a thousand times a day. He had no idea what was happening to him.Turns out, Sam — who was training for the Olympics at the time — was suffering from OCD. Not the light-switch, hand-washing version most people picture, but the intrusive-thought kind that loops in your head all day and won't let go.It wasn’t until he found a Reddi
1,000 Miles Down The Yukon, Three Days From Rescue: Inside The World’s Longest Paddling Race
A thousand miles down the Yukon River, from Canada into Alaska and up to the Arctic Circle. It’s the definition of remote — more people have been to the top of Everest than have been past Dawson City. No support boat, no resupply, no road, and no rescue worth the name.Get it wrong out there and you're days from help, not hours.The Yukon 1000 is the longest paddling race in the world, and Jon Frith
Freediving Champion William Trubridge: How To Not Panic
William Trubridge is one of the greatest freedivers of all time. He’s set 18 world records. Won six world championship titles. In 2016 he became the first person to reach 102 metres on a single breath with no fins and no rope.In 2019 he crossed Cook Strait entirely underwater, in a series of 934 breath holds over nine hours and fifteen minutes, to draw attention to New Zealand's critically endange
Stung By A Box Jellyfish In The Middle Of The Molokaʻi Channel: ‘I Just Kept Swimming’
At 17, Gráinne Moss swam the English Channel — the first Irish woman ever to do it. At 56, she became the 45th person on Earth to complete the Oceans Seven, the seven hardest channel swims in the world.This conversation is about the 39 years in between.We talk about the two failed attempts at the same stretch of water between Ireland and Scotland — one she was elated by, one that broke her.About b
11 Years Running All Blacks Rugby: Protests, Earthquakes And 6 World Cups
Steve Tew was chief executive of New Zealand Rugby from 2008 to 2019, and ran the Crusaders and the Canterbury Rugby Union from 1996 to 2001. He is now Director of High Performance at High Performance Sport New Zealand.This week, he joins the podcast to talk about a career that started with a box of files inherited from a volunteer and ended up running the organisation behind the All Blacks — and
Six-time World Champion With The Insight That Unlocked It All
Mark Sorenson won two world championships by the age of seventeen. But at twenty, despite playing the best tournament of his life, his team lost the final. That heartbreak led to an insight: it doesn’t matter how spectacular you are if you can’t make the people around you better as well.Mark is one of only two New Zealanders to win world softball titles as both a player and a coach — four golds wi
How Mike Cron Helped Turn Good All Blacks Into Greats For 15 Years
Mike ‘Crono’ Cron spent 15 years with the All Blacks — more than 200 tests, two World Cups, and a reputation as the best scrum coach in the game.In this conversation he breaks down how he actually does it:Why he shows a photograph of cyclists shoving cigarettes in each other's mouths to every team he works with. How he used the Royal New Zealand Ballet to transform the All Blacks lineout. The thre
He Swam 1,367km Down New Zealand - 90 Days, No Wetsuit
90 minutes into a 1,367km swim down the length of New Zealand, Jono Ridler turned his head to breathe and saw a large shark a body length away. He got out of the water for 20 minutes, then got straight back in — and kept going for another 89 days.The kid who had to be bribed with candy to finish a swimming lesson ended up breaking the world record for the longest unassisted staged swim. In this co
8,200m Up K2, He Walked Away Alone: Peter Hillary on Survival, Fear & Sir Edmund’s Advice
At 8,200 metres on K2, in deteriorating weather and near the summit, Peter Hillary made what he calls a “bravely independent” decision: he turned around and descended alone into the storm. The rest of the group stayed together and pushed for the top.It was one of the loneliest descents of his life — and it’s the reason he's here to tell the story. None of the others survived.In this conversation,
How Wayne Smith Built the All Blacks, Crusaders & Black Ferns Into Winning Cultures
Sir Wayne Smith — aka “The Professor” — is one of the most decorated coaches in New Zealand rugby history. In this conversation he opens up the systems behind decades of winning.The season the All Blacks spat into vials so a scientist could map their hormones — and why every fix was cultural, not chemical. The Henry V video that rebuilt a last-placed Crusaders side. The honesty card players handed
How Dr Luke Sniewski Ended a 30-Year Porn Addiction
He found the cable-box switch that unlocked adult content when he was just five years old. For the next three decades, porn was Dr Luke Sniewski’s coping mechanism for loneliness, stress and fear - through a professional football career in Italy, a burnout that ended his training business, and relationships that all ended the same way.He spent nearly a decade trying to willpower his way out. It ne
How NZ's Most Unlikely Basketball Legend Was Built: Brother Battles, Bleeding Fingers, Zero Shortcuts
Dillon Boucher was so sure he'd made the 2000 Olympic team that his wife had already booked her flights. But when they announced the squad in alphabetical order — by the third one he knew he hadn’t been selected.What Dillon did next is the definition of commitment.He quit his job, started a coaching business so he could keep a ball in his hands all day, and trained until his fingertips split open.
How Resentment Builds in Even the Best Workplaces
Nobody is born good at hard conversations. Not even the people who teach them.I’ve spent years running Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead™ programme. I built the Courageous Communication™ programme specifically around the skills of having hard conversations. But teaching it and living it are two different things. In this episode I sit down with my colleague Hannah Hudson to talk honestly about what it's a
The All Blacks' Secret: Why Performance Needs Care
⚠️ Please note: this conversation talks about depression and mental health. If you or someone you know is struggling, free help is available through Lifeline - call 0508 TAUTOKO, that's 0508 828 865.Sir John Kirwan is one of New Zealand's greatest All Blacks — but, while he lived the life of a champion, his mental health suffered. He's since become one of the country's greatest wellbeing advocates
Dame Farah Palmer: What 3 World Cups Taught Me About Leadership
Dame Farah Palmer wasn't the most talented athlete in the room. She was nearly invisible at her first university orientation week. And then… someone from the rugby club noticed her.In this conversation, Kaila Colbin sits down with one of New Zealand's most decorated sportswomen: three-time Black Ferns World Cup captain, Dame Companion, first woman elected to the New Zealand Rugby board, and one of
Maggie Cogger-Orr: The Loneliest Job on the Field - Lessons from a World-Class Rugby Referee
What does it take to hold professional athletes to the highest standards - without ever raising your voice?Maggie Cogger-Orr is one of New Zealand's top rugby referees and the current Referee of the Year. Originally from Canada, she grew up playing gridiron football before falling in love with rugby - and after two ACL injuries ended her playing ambitions, she went all-in on refereeing. She's now
Rob Hamill: My Brother Was Captured and Executed by the Khmer Rouge
Rob Hamill is one of New Zealand's most storied and decorated rowers - a silver at the World Championships in 1994, the winner of the first ever Atlantic Rowing Race in '97, and a man who has lived a life most people couldn't imagine. But beneath the athletic achievements is a story that shaped everything.When Rob was 14, his older brother Kerry went missing while sailing through Southeast Asia on
Blakey Johnston Surfed For 40 Hours Non-Stop - The Response Was Incredible
He lost his dad to suicide, surfed for 40 hours straight and built one of Australia's most powerful mental health movements — one wave at a time.Blake Johnston is a World Record holder, mental health advocate, Director of Cronulla Surfing Academy, and the man behind the world's largest paddle out. But before any of that, he was a kid from Cronulla who loved the ocean more than anything — and had n
The Most Dangerous Atlantic Rowing Race in History — Sarah Kessans Was In It
Sarah Kessans came to New Zealand for a two-year postdoc. Thirteen years later she's still here - an Associate Professor at the University of Canterbury working across synthetic biology, space research, and agricultural climate science.But before all of that, she was a 20-year-old from Indiana with $500, no ocean experience, and an idea she'd read about on a plane.In this episode, Sarah tells the
Andrew Mehrtens: The Feedback That Changed My Career Forever
Few All Blacks have ever been as loved as Andrew Mehrtens. Ask him why, and he'll tell you he was just the kid next door who got a winner wish.Growing up bilingual in the small North Canterbury community of Tuahiwi, Mehrts wasn't the biggest, the fastest, or the strongest. What he had was something harder to define - and harder to hold onto.In this conversation, Mehrts opens up about the confronti
Why Sir Edmund Hillary Told Jamie Fitzgerald to Dream Bigger - Rowing the Atlantic & Walking to the South Pole
What do you do when Sir Edmund Hillary tells you your ambition isn't big enough?For Jamie Fitzgerald, that question led to one of the most remarkable expeditions in New Zealand history - becoming the first Kiwis to reach the South Pole unsupported on foot.But before Antarctica, there was the Atlantic. In 2003, Jamie set the world record for rowing 5,000 kilometres across the ocean - with three wee
Paused for renovations. See you next week!
This week, no new Hunger & Heart episode. We’ve paused for renovations and will be back next week, bigger, brighter, and bolder than ever. See you then! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Rachel Taulelei on haters, 500-year strategy, and raising an elite athlete
Rachel Taulelei became a Trade Commissioner for New Zealand at just 25. She's built companies, represented New Zealand at international trade forums, and co-owns the Tokomanawa Queens, a championship-winning team in the Tauihi Women's Basketball League.In this conversation, Rachel opens up about:why she was thrilled when her D1 basketball-playing daughter transferred colleges, even though it meant
Wesley Clarke: “It was so liberating getting fired”
Wesley Clarke led the Manawatū Women's Sevens to back-to-back national finals, claiming the title in 2016.He stepped onto the international stage as assistant coach of the Black Ferns from 2015 to 2022, delivering World Cup victories in 2017 and 2022. He’s now head coach of the Manawatū Turbos in the National Provincial Championship — a team that once fired him.In this conversation, Kaila and
Craig White: “I was sh*t scared of my anger”
Craig White has spent more than three decades coaching at the highest levels of professional sport, including international rugby, professional football, and elite club environments.He's coached with the British and Irish Lions, worked in the English Premier League, and guided international rugby teams across five Rugby World Cups. Over the last decade, he's worked as a leadership mentor, sup
Dame Susan Devoy: “It sort of broke me, but I wouldn't admit that at the time”
Dame Susan Devoy dominated international squash through the 1980s: world number one for nearly a decade, four-time world champion, eight-time British Open winner, and the most decorated player in New Zealand squash history.Her achievements were recognised with numerous honours, and she went on to serve in prominent leadership roles — including five years as New Zealand's Race Relations Commissione
Kieran Read: “We lost that ability to get the best outta our people”
Kieran Read is rugby royalty: former Crusaders captain, former All Blacks captain, one of the most capped players of all time, and the fifth most capped All Black in history.He played 127 Tests, scored 26 international tries, and is one of only 45 players worldwide to have won multiple men’s Rugby World Cups.In this conversation, Kaila and Kieran explore:the specific techniques the Crusaders use t
Marina Erakovic: “You’re all alone out there, you have no team”
Marina Erakovic spent a decade ranked inside the world's top 100 tennis players. She competed in 36 Grand Slams, reached a career-high ranking of 39, and won 9 WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) and 18 ITF (International Tennis Federation) titles.Marina represented New Zealand at two Olympic Games and one Commonwealth Games, and played more than 600 main draw singles matches, including 44 at Grand S
Hugo Inglis: ”Winning was the number one thing”
Hugo Inglis is a four-time Olympian who represented New Zealand in field hockey, earning more than 250 caps for the national team and winning both silver and bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games. He's also the co-founder of High Impact Athletes. In this conversation, Hugo and Kaila talk about:how his competitiveness with his brother led him into elite hockey, his move from measuring succe
Alice Soper: “How dare these women?”
Alice Soper has been playing rugby in Wellington women’s teams since she was 13 years old; she’s played Sevens and 15s and she’s also played in England. She’s a freelance journalist, a content creator, and a staunch advocate for getting women over the advantage line.In this conversation, we talk about:the fact that the All Blacks are NOT the winningest team of all time, the difference be
Kaila Colbin & Hannah Hudson: Are your goals driving you…or holding you back
Last episode, Kaila spoke with Don Tricker, who said something that caught her attention: the only reason to have process-driven goals is in service of an ambitious outcome.In fact, focusing on process while excluding outcome may be a cop-out.Goal-setting is something Kaila and Boma educational designer Hannah Hudson have talked about for years, but Kaila’s conversation with Don sparked a new expl
Don Tricker: “I want to be part of an organisation that empowers our people to be extraordinary.”
Don Tricker was a former player and coach of the Black Sox, New Zealand's national softball team. Don worked in IT for a number of years before joining Sport and Recreation New Zealand. After playing a crucial role in the analysis of New Zealand's disappointing performance at the 2007 Men's Rugby World Cup, he was appointed by New Zealand Rugby as High Performance Manager in 2010. In 201
Shane Fletcher: “It's not about positive or negative leadership, it's about constructive or destructive leadership.”
The legendary Shane Fletcher — or “Fletch” is the High Performance Campaign Manager for the Black Ferns, both the XV and the Sevens. He was the team manager for the Crusaders for 8 years; his tenure there included their 7-in-a-row championship run.Fletch is also one of the extraordinary teaching assistants on the Crusaders Leadership Programme™, so someone we get the privilege of working with on a
Shane Bond: “You have to present yourself with an air of confidence. If you don't, they won't respect you.”
Shane Bond is a legend of New Zealand cricket, widely accepted as one of the greatest fast bowlers of his era. Currently, he has the second best bowling strike rate of all time in test match cricket. He played for the New Zealand Black Caps in Test, One Day International and T20. To this day, he is the fastest New Zealander to take a hundred wickets in One Day Internationals, achieving that feat i
Shane Cameron: “I was the major underdog. How the hell can you beat the guy who beat you?”
Known as the Mountain Warrior, Shane Cameron was the Commonwealth cruiserweight champion and held the WBO Oriental, WBO Asia-Pacific and IBF Pan-Pacific titles. Today, he’s a businessman, with ventures including the Shane Cameron Fitness gym and the Counterpunch boxing range.In today’s episode, Shane talks about:his rural upbringing and how he felt like — in his words — the “dumbest kid in school,
Todd Astle: “We're gonna fail more than we succeed in sport and life, so let's do it on our own terms.”
Todd Astle is a former professional cricketer; playing Test, ODI, and T20 cricket for the New Zealand Black Caps. In 2023, alongside his brother Ryan and his mate Ged Robinson, Todd co-founded BetterMan, a not-for-profit delivering BYC — betterment, yarns and competition — for men in Christchurch.In this episode, Todd talks about:what it was like to get four ducks in a row (of the cricketing varie
Karameli Faaee: “It's about training to be present under pressure.”
Karameli Faaee is one of the most successful international rugby players in US history. As captain of the USA Women’s Eagles, she led the team to fourth place in the 2017 Rugby World Cup, their first time making it to the semifinals in nearly 20 years. She then went into coaching and became the first-ever women’s coach of a US professional men’s rugby team, Rugby United New York.In this episode, K
Hannah Hudson: "You have no idea the impact you can have"
We’ve just returned from the U.S., where we filmed content in collaboration with the U.S. Soccer Foundation. Our work together focuses on the Yes Coach! initiative, which has a target of upskilling 100,000 coach-mentors across the United States by 2030. We interviewed 10 players and coaches, from grassroots to pro levels, and were struck by how many parallels we saw with past Hunger & Hea
We're in Seattle and will be back next week!
This week, no new Hunger & Heart episode. Kaila checks in from Seattle, where she’s been filming with an incredible crew and extraordinary coaches and athletes. Stay tuned, we’ll be back next week! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Zoë McBride: “I just don’t wanna do this anymore”
Zoë McBride is a double world champion in the women's lightweight single scull rowing. She held the world record in the lightweight single scull and is only the second New Zealander to win a double national championship in both the lightweight and premier single sculls.Zoë stepped away from rowing in 2021 and has been open about how the need to make weight took its toll, not only on her body, but
Campbell Johnstone: “The easiest part of being an All Black is becoming an All Black.”
Campbell Johnstone played for the Crusaders in 2004 and for the All Blacks in 2005. In 2023, he came out as the first openly gay All Black and made headlines around the world.In this episode, Campbell talks about:The surprising way his older brother reacted when he came out How he let himself down in his goal to become an All BlackThe remarkable support he received from the rugby communityHun
Sir Wayne Smith tells the extraordinary story of the Kobelco Steelers: “The company was gonna dissolve within 67 days.”
On the Crusaders Leadership Programme™, you get two live, one-hour, Ask-Me-Anything sessions with our faculty, including Sir Wayne Smith, who we featured on Episode 5 of the podcast. For today's episode, we are pulling a clip from one of those Ask-Me-Anything sessions where Smithy talks about his experience coaching the Kobelco Steelers, the rugby team for the Kobe Steel Company in Japan.&nbs
DJ Forbes: “We’ve got an opportunity to create a bit of history”
DJ Forbes is Rugby Sevens royalty. He played in 512 games in 89 tournaments, winning six World Series. Last year he was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame.In this episode, DJ talks about:The influence of his Samoan culture on his leadershipComing to grips with the idea of captaining his nationWhat surprised him in going from player to captain to coachA huge thanks to Celebrity Speakers for
Raelene Castle: “You spend a lot of time in the pain cave”
Raelene Castle is a woman of firsts: first female CEO of a club in the National Rugby League, the first female CEO of Rugby Australia, and the first female CEO of Sport New Zealand. She’s also unafraid to take on gnarly issues, operating at the centre of the storm for some of the biggest controversies and challenges on the world stage with a near-supernatural level of grace and steadiness.In this
Rob Penney: “It wasn’t about who I was, it was about my effect on other people”
Rob Penney just finished his 2nd year as head coach of the Crusaders. Year One: the team didn't make it to the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade. Year Two: complete turnaround, won the championship.Huge credit of course has to go to Colin Mansbridge, Angus Gardiner, Brent Francis, and the entire leadership team for keeping their cool, understanding what needed to be done, an
Kathrine Switzer: “It’s not about going fast, it’s about finishing the job”
Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon in 1967 — and had to literally fight off a race official to do so. Because of her, millions of women are now empowered by the simple act of running.In this episode, Kathrine talks about:How her parents empowered her to think differently about what was possibleHow she has continued to leverage her experience to expand access
Barbara Kendall: “The bigger the event, the bigger the fall”
New Zealand windsurfing icon Barbara Kendall won Olympic gold in 1992 — the first Kiwi woman to win gold in any sport in more than 40 years, and only the second woman ever to do so. She is a 5x Olympian with 25 national titles and 11 world championship medals. She was also the first woman inducted into the world Sailing Hall of Fame.In this episode, Barbara talks about:The impact of nearly dying o
Ian Jones: “None of us should chase other people’s normal”
Ian Jones MNZM is one of New Zealand's most capped locks, with 105 games and 79 tests for the All Blacks. Known as Kamo, Ian played for the Chiefs from 1996 to 1999, and is now a rugby commentator for Sky Sports as well as General Manager of the All Blacks Experience in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.In this episode, Ian talks about:What it takes to be an All BlackWhat his most impactful coaches h
Anna Galvan: “She made me want to be the best I could be”
Anna Galvan's netball career spanned 17 years. She played for the Southern Sting and for the Canterbury Flames, later the Canterbury Tactix. As a Silver Fern representing New Zealand, she competed at the Commonwealth Games in 2002, where New Zealand lost the final in heartbreaking double overtime to Australia. In this episode, Anna talks about:That silver medal.The challenge of balancing moth
Tori Moorby: "I've got one shot at this. How good could I be?"
Tori Moorby has been dominating the javelin throw in New Zealand since March of 2014 when she first broke the New Zealand record. She was just 19 years old. Since then, she's broken her own record over and over again, currently sitting at an astonishing 63.26 meters. In this episode, Tori talks about:Her insatiable ambition.Why she doesn't like team sports.The first person she calls after a c
Sam Whitelock: “That’s the difference between winning and losing”
Sam Whitelock was the fastest player ever to reach 100 international appearances, the youngest New Zealander to reach 100 tests and one of just 44 men in the world to win a Rugby World Cup more than once.In this episode, Sam talks about:How his father deliberately cultivated Sam's rugby intellectThe real reason he's obsessed with body languageThe trick he would use to get the most out of Israel Da
Cultivating sustainable obsession: The most powerful insights from the first 14 episodes
Pulling key moments from the original conversations, Kaila shares the most powerful insights and themes that have emerged from the first three months of the podcast.She covers:The role of obsession in high performanceThe essential ingredient that allows a coach to get more from their athletes (and a leader to get more from their team)What we’re looking for when we strive for big thingsHunger &
Christie Jenkins: “I just remember being absolutely crushed”
Christie Jenkins was number one in Australia and top 10 in the world in not one, not two, but THREE sports: trampolining, CrossFit and beach volleyball. She is currently the Managing Director of Techstars Sydney, investing in 12 super early-stage startups every year. In this episode, Christie talks about:Her obsession with feedbackHow we set leaders up to fail in the workplace, and
Mea Motu: “My daughter fought for me, so why can’t I fight for her?”
Mea Motu is a professional boxer, nicknamed “The NightMea”. She's a five-time national champion across four weight classes — the most titles held by any female Kiwi boxer. In 2023, she captured the IBO World Super Bantamweight crown, defending it twice. This past January, she challenged Unified Champion Ellie Scotney in the UK in an historic bout for four major belts. She recorded her first profes
Adam Nicholls: “Is being an elite athlete good for you? Probably not.”
Adam Nicholls is a professor at the University of Hull. He researches the factors that predict doping among adolescent athletes, as well as how athletes cope and manage their emotions. His research has been funded by organisations including the International Olympic Committee and The World Anti-Doping Agency. He also won the silver medal in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at the 2021 British Open..In this epi
Norm Maxwell: “If I didn't perform… I'm gone.”
Norm Maxwell, Crusader #21, is not your ordinary rugby player. At 1.98m tall but weighing just 90kg, the lock quickly gained a reputation for being an extremely physical player. Having struggled physically and mentally with the demands of early professional rugby, Norm now works to add wellbeing back into performance. Norm is a former All Black and was the fourth ever inductee to the Crusaders Hal
Sir Graham Henry: “A recipe for disaster”
Sir Graham “Ted” Henry led the All Blacks to win the 2011 Rugby World Cup and was named IRB Coach of the Year a record five times. He was also responsible for New Zealand’s worst ever performance at a Rugby World Cup.In this episode, Ted talks about:The coaching loss that is etched in his brainThe relationship between invincibility and disasterHow to build a culture of being the best in the worldT
Shea McAleese: “I'm a bit of a crazy bastard”
Shea McAleese is a 4x Olympic hockey player, has won silver and bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games, and is the third most capped player in New Zealand history.In this episode, Shea talks about:The difference between forward-facing culture and intrinsic culture.What it looks like to put everything on the line for your team.How to train for pressure.Subscribe now to get notified as soon as new
Julia George: “The pressure is constant.”
This week, we talk to Julia George. Julia works in one of the most competitive environments in the world. She is the Director of Partnerships at Red Bull Racing and Red Bull Technology, where she leads a team of over 30 people who manage one of F1’s biggest partnership portfolios.In this episode, Julia talks about:Why she doesn’t describe herself as compassionate.How to thrive in an environment th
Joe Kennedy: “Magic in a bottle”
This week, we talk to Joe Kennedy, the Director of Athletics and Sports Leadership at the Obama Presidential Center. Joe is a lifelong basketball player, coach, and civics leader. He coached in the NBA. He worked directly with President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama on initiatives like the Let's Move Campaign. He launched All Vote No Play — a movement focused on increasing student-athlete vo
Katie Sadleir: “You have two choices: sit and wallow or step up”
This week, we talk to Katie Sadleir, an absolute titan in global sport. Katie is a former Olympic and Commonwealth Games athlete, was General Manager of Women's Rugby for World Rugby, and is currently Chief Executive of Commonwealth Sport.In this episode, Katie talks about:What the most successful coaches have in commonHow she took World Rugby’s council from 0% to 40% women in a yearThe bombshell
Sir Wayne Smith: "Death is afraid of them that have the heart of a lion"
This week, we talk to Sir Wayne Smith, a true legend in the world of rugby. Smithy won three Rugby World Cups and, along with Todd Blackadder and Justin Marshall, was one of the first three inductees to the Crusaders Hall of Fame. In this episode, Smithy talks about:What he learned from spit.Why training is better with chaos.Why Sir Graham Henry refused to ride on the Black Ferns team bus.Sub
Chelsea Lane: Alarming and almost impossible
This week, we talk to Chelsea Lane, a game-changer in high-performance sport. Chelsea was Vice President of Player Performance and Sports Medicine at the Atlanta Hawks and Executive Director for Performance and Sports Medicine at the Golden State Warriors.In this episode, Chelsea talks about:Why she thinks her job is to "manipulate people for a living."How she gets people to do things that are "al
Sarah Robb O’Hagan: The leader sets the pace of the pack
This week, we talk to Sarah Robb O'Hagan, renowned business leader and CEO, known for transforming iconic brands like Gatorade and Equinox while inspiring peak performance through her platform, ExtremeYOU.After experiencing burnout for herself and seeing it in others in her team, Sarah drew inspiration from elite athletes to pioneer a new approach in workplace wellness.In this episode, Sarah talks
Bex Smith: More than just football
Our guest today is Rebecca “Bex” Smith. Bex is a former World Cup and Olympic footballer. She managed the women's competition at FIFA and was global executive director of the Women's game for COPA 90. She currently runs her own consultancy on the women's game and female athletes called Crux Sports. In this episode, we talk about the differences in the women's game and the men's game, what it'
Sir John Kirwan: Balance is bullsh*t
Our guest today is Sir John James Patrick Kirwan, aka JK. He is renowned as a mental health advocate, former rugby union and rugby league player, and former rugby union coach.JK was part of the New Zealand All Blacks team that won the first Rugby World Cup in 1987. He's also written two books, "All Blacks Don't Cry" and "Stand by Me". We talk about the myth of balance. You'll find out why he
Hunger & Heart launches 2 April
It’s official: Season one of Hunger & Heart launches Wednesday 2 April.The podcast features raw, powerful conversations between Boma CEO Kaila Colbin and extraordinary leaders who have pushed boundaries in often uncomfortable ways:Sir John Kirwan – Mental health champion and All Blacks legendRebecca "Bex" Smith – Former Olympic and World Cup footballerSarah Robb O’Hagan – Former Global Preside
Introducing Hunger & Heart with Kaila Colbin
Introducing Hunger & Heart, a podcast about the intersection of wild ambition and fierce compassion, hosted by entrepreneur Kaila Colbin.Kaila tackles the myth that you can either empathise or get the job done, but not both. She talks to people who have managed to perform at the absolute highest level while still holding tightly to their values — specifically, sportspeople — revealing insights
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