The Melding Muse Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Colin Walker is a former personal trainer and is now the General Manager of Life Fitness New Zealand—a global leader in commercial fitness equipment, known for combining cutting-edge technology with premium design to help people live healthier, more active lives. Life Fitness is a true powerhouse in the wellness space, with a brand portfolio that includes Hammer Strength, Cybex, Indoor Cycling Group (ICG), and SCIFIT.In this episode, we dive into the evolution of the fitness industry—from global trends to local insights—and explore how to make a real impact in a fast-growing, competitive market. Colin shares valuable perspectives on fitness, wellbeing, diet, supplements, and recovery, drawn from both his personal journey and years in the industry.🔥 Whether you’re trying to get back in shape, stay fit and healthy, or you’re thinking about opening your own gym or fitness facility, this conversation is packed with insights and inspiration you won’t want to miss.🔗 https://lifefitness.co.nz/ & follow https://www.instagram.com/col._.train/ & https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinwalkernz/ | Contact: 📧 colin@lifefitness.co.nz

Moments:

(0:00) 🟣 The INTRO

(3:28) 🏃‍♂️ Getting into the fitness world

(6:33) 🪖 What’s the coolest thing from trade shows

(8:52) 👉 Keep it simple. Less is more

(11:40) 🏋 The third space (Types of GYMs)

(12:50) 🇳🇿 Why is NZ such a big fitness market?

(13:57) 👶 How do you keep yourself so young?

(17:39) 🫨 The ultimate fitness retreat?

(21:50) 🛡️ The GYM service wars

(26:31) 🚨 Upsell, Engagement & Churn for GYMs

(29:12) 💪 Train properly, like an athlete

(33:22) 👨‍🎨 Designing a GYM

(44:19) 👾 Gamification

(46:30) 🔄 Managing engagement 2 archive results

(50:46) 👀 Get a FREE week of BFT, Evolt Scan & more

(52:16) 🔴 Life Fitness offers

(57:54) 🤲 I want to open a GYM, help me out

(1:04:38) 🦼 SCIFIT There is room for everyone

(1:07:46) 🍣 Diet & Supplements - Tips

(1:22:27) 🧘‍♂️ Meditation, Breathing, Stretching, Recovery & more

(1:28:20) 🎛️ THE SOUNDBOARD

(1:30:53) 😆 Change 75 Hard for 365 of Easy

(1:31:58) 🗯️ Advice to young Colin Walker

ABOUT THE MELDING MUSE PODCAST 🟣

Melding art & design, music, film, entrepreneurship, fashion, sports, gaming and whatever is in between.

We exist to showcase extraordinary people to inspire the next generation of creatives & leaders. These are stories that motivate us to continually challenge ourselves, push boundaries and ultimately reinvent ourselves time and time again.

Streaming from the land of the long white cloud - Aotearoa, New Zealand 🇳🇿🎟️

MERCH OFFICIAL STORE & SITE:

🔗⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://themeldingmuse.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Like this content? 🔴 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUBSCRIBE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | T⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎵 Music: Intro [High Ball by Nick Maclaren] | Outro [Trippin' feat. Leroy by Unda]

A project powered by:

🟩 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NEZIAK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Crafting the most delightful brands & digital experiences.

Supported by:

▪️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NZK Creative Collective⁠⁠⁠⁠ | CODE: TMMP for 25% off

🏋 ⁠⁠BFT Gren Eden⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠Te Atatu⁠⁠ | | Get 1 WEEK FREE + 1 Evolt Full Body Composition Scan & Consultation by mentioning "The Melding Muse" - Visit the studio or book by text to 021 466 407 - Glen Eden or 021 273 8123 - Te Atatu

🇲🇽 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Salsaroha Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | CODE: TMMP for 25% off

Timprovise is a TV presenter, stand-up comedian, actor, content creator, and all-around creative force from South Auckland. We dive into the making of his debut one-hour comedy special, The Kapahaka Dropout, the challenges of being a fair-skinned Māori comedian, and the importance of representation and building your own stage when none exists.We explore New Zealand’s comedy scene, tall poppy syndrome, and how genuine support, like a simple message, can uplift someone to keep chasing their dreams. Tim shares his North Star vision, the creative process behind his jokes, and why legacy matters more than likes.🔥 Whether you’re a comedy nerd, creator, or just chasing big dreams — this one’s for you.Visit: 🔗 https://timprovise.com | 🎟️ https://www.comedyfestival.co.nz/find-a-show/timprovise-the-kapahaka-dropout/ | 👉 https://frankmanagement.nz/timprovise/

MOMENTS

(0:00) - 🟣 The INTRO

(2:51) - 💐 The Flowers

(7:29) - 🥝 The Flag

(14:00) - ✴️ The Northstar

(18:40) - 🪖 The Funeral Mixtape

(20:33) - 🤟 The Luck = Opportunity meets preparation - Sacrifice

(22:39) - 🧨 The Impact & Legacy - Fuck likes

(24:24) - 🐻 The Kapahaka Dropout

(26:10) - 🐩 The Racist Dog

(28:03) - 🕺 The Name (Kapahaka)

(29:42) - 🔄 The Feedback

(31:50) - 👀 The White Audience

(33:48) - 🗺️ The Engagement

(36:49) - 🏦 The Classic

(38:21) - 🌚 The Hood (Poppy’s Comedy Club)

(40:29) - 📜 The story of how Poppy’s started

(43:54) - 🚨 The NEWS! EXCLUSIVE

(45:59) - 🃏 The Universal Joke/Comic

(48:34) - 📦 The Marketing

(50:36) - 📣 The Crowd Work (Goes Wild)

(53:57) - 🕶️ The Blind Lady

(56:29) - ❞ The Quote - The Drama

(59:54) - 🧃 The Brand (Timprovise on the self)

(1:06:11) - ❓The Maori

(1:08:19) - 🥧 The Bakery Run

(1:17:50) - 🧸 The Most Challenging - The Toys

(1:31:20) - 🎛️ THE SOUNDBOARD

(1:33:47) - 🎛️ The Advice to Myself

(1:34:49) - 🎛️ The Quote that changed Tim’s life

(1:35:25) - 🎛️ The New York Knicks

(1:38:30) - 🎛️ The Timprovise SPECIAL

(1:39:42) - 🫡 THE CRAZY

ABOUT THE MELDING MUSE PODCAST 🟣

Melding art & design, music, film, entrepreneurship, fashion, sports, gaming and whatever is in between.

We exist to showcase extraordinary people to inspire the next generation of creatives & leaders. These are stories that motivate us to continually challenge ourselves, push boundaries and ultimately reinvent ourselves time and time again.

Streaming from the land of the long white cloud - Aotearoa, New Zealand 🇳🇿🎟️

MERCH OFFICIAL STORE & SITE:

🔗⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://themeldingmuse.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Like this content? 🔴 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUBSCRIBE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | T⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎵 Music: Intro [High Ball by Nick Maclaren] | Outro [Trippin' feat. Leroy by Unda]

A project powered by:

🟩 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NEZIAK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Crafting the most delightful brands & digital experiences.

Supported by:

▪️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NZK Creative Collective⁠⁠⁠ | CODE: TMMP for 25% off

🏋 ⁠BFT Gren Eden⁠ & ⁠Te Atatu⁠ | | Get 1 WEEK FREE + 1 Evolt Full Body Composition Scan & Consultation by mentioning "The Melding Muse" - Visit the studio or book by text to 021 466 407 - Glen Eden or 021 273 8123 - Te Atatu

🇲🇽 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Salsaroha Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | CODE: TMMP for 25% off

Cecilia Lara, widely known as the “Latin Kiwi,” is a radio host, content creator and entrepreneur who has become a vibrant voice for the Latin American community in New Zealand. Cecilia and her husband Luis have built a rich legacy, including two iconic restaurants that brought the flavours of Latin America to the heart of Auckland.Her platform serves as a cultural bridge, bringing together the best of Latin American and Kiwi culture.

Timestamps & Moments

ENGLISH Segments:

(0:00) - 🔮 Intro

(3:09) - 🇳🇿 Migrating to New Zealand

(7:30) - 🧼 From Corporate Manager to Cleaning Toilets. Why?

(11:41) - 🫠 You why I didn’t fire you?

(14:17) - 😝 When you truly deserve to be fired lol

(16:53) - 👩🏻‍💼 I wanted to do something for myself. Becoming an Entrepreneur

(18:53) - 💋 An opportunity of a lifetime arrived. Besos Latinos

(20:19) - 🌎 Discovering my own continent. LATIN AMERICA

(23:51) - 😜 Sometimes ignorance is bliss

(28:08) - 🧐 Why open a second restaurant?

(31:07) - 🦠 COVID-19 and its impact on Hospo

(32:57) - 🛂 “Immigrants are taking our jobs”…

(34:40) - ☔️ “I’m not going to work because it’s raining” Haha!

(36:05) - 🔪 An Entrepreneur also needs to be able to realize when a project needs to…

(36:54) - 🥝 From a social service. A Latin Kiwi was born

(41:56) - 📲 A self-made career in Digital Marketing

(44:51) - 🇲🇽 At our worst, something spectacular happened. Besos Margarita Drink.

En Español (Momentos):

(53:20) - 🗣️ Estamos hablando en Español ahora.

(57:06) - ⚠️ Emigrar a Nueva Zelanda. ¡Importante investigar! El tiktok de 20 segundos.

(1:03:10) - 😞 “¿Cómo hago para que me deporten?” Tristes realidades.

(1:05:36) - 💨 Este año 81.200 ciudadanos Neo Zelandeses decidieron abandonar el país a largo plazo. Qué pasa?

(1:12:25) - 🇳🇿 - Por qué Nueva Zelanda?

(1:16:11) - 🥾 - Perfílate a ver si NZ es el país para ti. No es para todo el mundo.

(1:18:30) - 🧐 Yo me devolvería a mi país. Carlos Ballarta nos dejó pensando…

(1:21:43) - 🇨🇴 Volver a Colombia es una terapia emocional y un apreciar lo bonito de la vida

(1:23:53) - 🇲🇽 “Tengo mucho que dar”

(1:26:09) - 😅 Qué estoy haciendo acá?

(1:27:47) - 🤘🏿 Yo tenía claro que mi destino era ser “un perdedor”. Lo que aprendí siendo bartender.

(1:30:00) - 🥝 Latin Kiwi (Reinventado)

(1:32:20) - 🥳 “El único fracaso es no intentarlo” VA

(1:34:17) - 🥵 El miedo al rechazo, al fracaso y al “Qué dirán”…

(1:40:05) - 🤩 Mentalidad de crecimiento y colaboración

(1:42:20) - 🥰 Consejos para emprendedores

(1:48:07) - 🎛️ El Soundboard - Preguntas con Inteligencia Artificial

(1:49:04) - 📲 Creación de Contenido

(1:51:01) - 👏 Proyectos y colaboraciones que me emocionan

(1:53:21) - 🏆 Qué significa el éxito para ti?

(1:56:46) - 💧🏋️✌🏾

ST Attire by:

👕 (https://www.instagram.com/diez.co/)

============================

ABOUT 🫠 THE MELDING MUSE PODCAST 🟢

Melding art & design, music, film, entrepreneurship, fashion, sports, gaming and whatever is in between. We exist to showcase extraordinary people to inspire the next generation of creatives & leaders. These are stories that motivate us to continually challenge ourselves, push boundaries and ultimately reinvent ourselves time and time again.Streaming from the land of the long white cloud - Aotearoa, New Zealand 🇳🇿

🎟️ MERCH OFFICIAL STORE & SITE:🔗 https://themeldingmuse.coFollow us on:Insta: https://www.instagram.com/themeldingmuse/ | Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@themeldingmuseYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMeldingMuse🎵 Music: High Ball from Pterror Dak Trill by Nick Maclaren | Trippin' feat. Leroy by UndaA project powered by:🟩 ⁠Neziak Design ⁠▪️ ⁠NZK Creative Collective⁠Supported by:🇲🇽 🌽 ⁠Salsaroha

Corey Friedlander is a New Zealand-based drummer known for his work in the metal and rock music scenes. He gained recognition as a highly skilled and technical drummer and he is now a producer and co-owner of the production studio and music label BEATSPUN. Corey has played with several bands, most notably City of Souls, In Dread Response, Mark of Man, 8 Foot Sativa, and more. He has also been involved in various other musical projects and collaborations, further establishing himself as a respected figure in the New Zealand music community. During this korero we discussed his early life, meeting his heroes, his creative process, mental health, creating BEATSPUN and more. This was a conversation I truly enjoyed as it was amazing to reconnect with old friends who are also immensely talented. Timestamps & Moments (02:06) - ❤️ Falling in love with music

(09:52) - 🤘 Metallica - What was that?

(10:42) - 🔉 My parents asked me to turn it down a bit…

(11:26) - 🎸 Nu-Metal - The Groove

(13:30) - 🤔 It’s noise. Wait? It’s not.

(15:43) - 😲 Dude, you have met some crazy people.

(16:20) - 🗺️ Where are you from BTW? Playing in bars underage. Eden’s Bar.

(17:30) - 🥁 How I started getting into technical drumming

(18:41) - ✈️ They hire me, then travel to the US to record with the producer of Tool.

(20:45) - 🏫 What did you learn teaching?

(22:10) - 💼 I want to become a businessman. Swizl Jager Shout!

(23:05) - 🤝 @swizljager - New collaboration coming soon

(24:50) - 🇳🇿 NZ Music scene is small. That’s why you can’t be a dick.

(25:32) - ❓ What happened with City of Souls?

(28:30) - 🎶 What makes the NZ scene tough for musos?

(33:15) - 😕 The problem with the scene in New Zealand is…

(34:30) - 🔑 YOU HAVE BAD MANAGEMENT! Management is everything

(36:05) - 🔥 Metal is getting popular again… Vibe > Words

(37:30) - 🎤 Opening for Bring Me The Horizon - Weird Moment.

(39:54) - 🚫 Do opening acts get less lights, volume and quality for their performance?

(44:35) - 🎧 BEATSPUN

(45:45) - 🌟 Nathan Grey is super talented - Keep an eye on this guy.

(47:12) - 💔 Letting go, Toxic Relationship, Mental breakdown, A Friend, Social Media, Cops

(50:55) - 🍔 Who is DJ Scissorhands? - Burger Fuel Partnership & more

(54:17) - 🎚️ Did you have any background as producer? Also what about money?

(59:07) - 🏷️ Becoming a label. Realising all the ins and outs of the music industry. Wow.

(1:01:02) - 🎧 Where was DJ Scissorhands when we wanted a DJ for our Nu-Metal band.

(1:02:47) - 🧠 The Mental Breakdown - What did you learn?

(1:05:59) - 🧘 “Every thought has energy” - Breathing, DMT (Ayahuasca) & Psychedelic Experiences, Sensory Deprivation Tank.

(1:10:33) - 🧑‍⚕️ Get Therapy. The Song “Letting go”

(1:15:30) - 🎨 Creative Process

(1:17:35) - 🤖 Artificial Intelligence in The Music Scene

(1:21:29) - 🎛️ THE SOUNDBOARD

(1:25:43) - 🎙️ “Hi ChatGPT 4o, You are live, ask something”

(1:27:32) - 🏁 Leave us with…

(1:29:25) - 💧🏋️✌🏾 Attire by: ⛑️ https://www.instagram.com/cloudworldwide/ 🥋 https://www.instagram.com/fxxkingrabbits/ 👕 https://www.instagram.com/swizljager/ ============================ ABOUT 🫠 THE MELDING MUSE PODCAST 🟢 Melding art & design, music, film, entrepreneurship, fashion, sports, gaming and whatever is in between. We exist to showcase extraordinary people to inspire the next generation of creatives & leaders. These are stories that motivate us to continually challenge ourselves, push boundaries and ultimately reinvent ourselves time and time again. Streaming from the land of the long white cloud - Aotearoa, New Zealand 🇳🇿

🎟️ MERCH OFFICIAL STORE & SITE: 🔗 https://themeldingmuse.co Follow us on: Insta: https://www.instagram.com/themeldingmuse/ | Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@themeldingmuse Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMeldingMuse 🎵 Music: High Ball from Pterror Dak Trill by Nick Maclaren | Trippin' feat. Leroy by Unda A project powered by: 🟩 Neziak Design ▪️ NZK Creative Collective Supported by: 🇲🇽 🌽 Salsaroha

SKIP THE BOAT is more than just a brand. Since its inception, its mantra has remained constant: to inspire and empower people to chase their dreams. From unmatched underground shows to wearable stories through their garments,  SKIPTHEBOAT evolves constantly, and it's becoming a beacon of resistance against mediocrity.

Resembling a cult-like dedication, followers of the movement are more than mere customers; they are what carries it forward.

My conversation with the visionary Herman Jagpal was both fun and insightful. I eagerly anticipate seeing him take this dream worldwide and ultimately become a household name. 🔥

(2:13) - 🗣️ “Not great adventure ever starts with someone being rational” - Unknown

(3:22) - 🚤 Skip The Boat (Origin)

(7:21) - 🇳🇿 How the F do you even get people to your shows? NZ is tough.

(8:53) - 😠 I annoyed the fuck out of people.

(10:22) - 📈 The Tipping Point

(12:57) - 👥 The Youth is the Future - STK’s Demographic

(14:42) - 🎉 The Events need to be special

(16:35) - 🍦 The moment I realised I was creating something special

(21:44) - 🤝 Jagermeister Partnership

(23:50) - 🎬 We are making a short film

(25:39) - 🧘 Our Mantra

(27:44) - ⛵ What “Skip The Boat” means

(29:11) - ❤️ Do what you love. No matter what.

(31:09) - 👥 Brands forget about their communities. Air Walk Example.

(32:21) - 🎵 Music Scene in New Zealand

(35:15) - 🏎️ The Car Enthusiast Community

(37:45) - 👣 STB Team

(40:04) - 📖 Storytelling + More

(41:43) - ⚽️ Sports Management? Daaam!

(43:03) - 🚫 Getting Banned

(45:34) - 📱 Social Media, Mental Health

(48:58) - 🤝 Treat your community like people

(51:03) - 🧠 Mental Health & Donations to charities

(55:12) - 🦸‍♀️ Social Media is simply a fabricated version of reality

(56:32) - 💼 “I never treated the brand as a company”

(58:12) - 💸 If I had a billion dollars

(58:53) - 📖 The most important story told. To date.

(1:02:07) - 🏪 Opening a store in Auckland. Economics.

(1:05:43) - 🛍️ Design & Customer Experience

(1:10:59) - 💭 Brand this & brand that. What is the AVR STB fan feel?

(1:12:27) - 🏆 What is success?

(1:14:47) - 🎛️ THE SOUNDBOARD Q&A (New Segment)

(1:21:31) - ❤️ Herman RECOMMENDS…Books, Music, Films + More.

(1:24:55) - 💧🏋️✌🏾

============================ ABOUT 🫠 THE MELDING MUSE PODCAST 🟢 Melding art & design, music, film, entrepreneurship, fashion, sports, gaming and whatever is in between. We exist to showcase extraordinary people to inspire the next generation of creatives & leaders. These are stories that motivate us to continually challenge ourselves, push boundaries and ultimately reinvent ourselves time and time again. Streaming from the land of the long white cloud - Aotearoa, New Zealand 🇳🇿

🎟️ MERCH OFFICIAL STORE & SITE: 🔗 https://themeldingmuse.co

Like this content? 🔴 SUBSCRIBE ON YTFollow us on:Instagram | Tiktok 🎵 Music: Intro [High Ball from Pterror Dak Trill by Nick Maclaren] | Outro [Trippin' feat. Leroy by Unda] A project powered by: 🟩 Neziak Design | http://neziak.design Supported by: 🇲🇽 🌽 http://salsaroha.com

▪️ NZK Creative Collective | https://neziak.co/

At only 20 years of age, Alejandro Tellez is a young, promising MMA and Muay Thai fighter from Colombia, training out of the prestigious MMA gym City Kickboxing. A humble but ferocious athlete hungry to conquer the big leagues of Mixed Martial Arts.

Now under the guidance of one of the best coaches in the world, Eugene Bareman, I can’t wait to see him rise through the ranks making his dream come true.

I enjoyed this conversation very much, and it was very special to have a fellow Colombian who proudly represents us in this amazing sport.

(2:51) - 🏁 Beginnings (Abuse, bullying, and finding martial arts)

(8:50) - 🥊 First fight at 13 yo

(11:50) - 🔄 Switching to City Kickboxing

(12:30) - 🇹🇭 Thailand

(14:30) - 👑 King In The Ring

(15:50) - 🌎 Training in Colombia vs New Zealand

(18:49) - 💪 King in the ring is for the real gs

(21:31) - 🏋️‍♂️ Conditioning

(22:57) - ⚖️ Weight Cut

(26:02) - 🧠 Mental Preparation & Studying your opponent

(28:39) - 🛡️ Biggest Weapon against Dominic Reed

(31:50) - 🧠 Fighting Smart (Setting up traps to show my power)

(33:11) - 🎯 Game Plan

(33:38) - 🎨 Creativity inside the ring. Reading and responding

(37:32) - 🥋 Do you look at other martial arts or just Muay Thai?

(38:49) - 🤔 Why moving to City Kickboxing?

(42:21) - 🥇 Making it in the MMA game

(45:41) - 🥋 Wrestling, BJJ

(48:58) - 🌟 A fighter I admire

(52:07) - 🤜 Sparring with killers

(54:56) - 🥋 The Impact of Martial Arts on Life

(58:18) - 🤼 Mom I wanna be a professional fighter!

(1:00:48) - 👨‍👩‍👧 Reconnecting with family you don’t know. Who am I?

(1:02:33) - 🇨🇴 Colombians, we are different

(1:10:41) - 🎨 What else do you like doing dude?

(1:11:35) - 🎤 I rap sometimes

(1:12:58) - 🛡️ El Guerrero is born

(1:13:41) - 🙏 A MESSAGE OF HOPE

(1:16:19) - 💧🏃✌🏾 DWE&P

ABOUT 🫠 THE MELDING MUSE PODCAST 🟢 Melding art & design, music, film, entrepreneurship, fashion, sports, gaming and whatever is in between. We exist to showcase extraordinary people to inspire the next generation of creatives & leaders. These are stories that motivate us to continually challenge ourselves, push boundaries and ultimately reinvent ourselves time and time again. Streaming from the land of the long white cloud - Aotearoa, New Zealand 🇳🇿

🎟️ MERCH OFFICIAL STORE & SITE: 🔗 https://themeldingmuse.co Follow us on: Insta: https://www.instagram.com/themeldingmuse/ | Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@themeldingmuse Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMeldingMuse 🎵 Music: High Ball from Pterror Dak Trill by Nick Maclaren | Trippin' feat. Leroy by Unda A project powered by: 🟩 ⁠⁠Neziak Design ⁠⁠ ▪️ ⁠⁠NZK Creative Collective⁠⁠

A "mean as kōrero" with rapper & musician Swizl Jager. His bi-lingual lyrics, blending Te Reo Māori and English, coupled with a background in metal, allow him to produce an eclectic range of music. Born and raised in Tauranga Moana, of Ngaiterangi and Te Rarawa descent. His innovative approach captivates audiences of all ages and backgrounds. His songs have been featured on various TV shows, including ‘Find Me a Māori Bride,’ ‘Moko Aotearoa,’ and ‘This is Piki,’ among others. With a strong fanbase across the motu and the respect of many of Aotearoa’s top names in music and film, Swizl Jager is a compelling presence on stage. He has performed extensively across Aotearoa, as well as Australia and Canada expanding his reach with the unmatched energy of his live shows. (2:43) - Sharing how we both went Metal to Rap 🎸🎤

(8:04) - Swizl’s Musical Journey 🚀

(13:29) - Write a story about an alien encounter to do with you & Burger Fuel (Becoming a Rapper) 👽🍔

(15:36) - Music at home. Was that a thing? 🎶🏡

(16:33) - What type of lyrical content were you writing at that age? ✍️

(17:13) - Catharsis with music 🎧

(18:57) - When your creativity is blocked by your own ideology - Open your eyes 🧠👀

(20:06) - Tuning into Mexican Mariachi! Leshgooo! Spectrums of music 🎺🎵

(23:38) - Moving onto Reo Raps 🎤🌊

(26:08) - Latin music making it into the mainstream (A story of resilience) 🌎🎵

(29:44) - The Power of Maori Music & Performances 🥁🎤

(31:30) - The new wave of Maori Artists 🌊🎨

(34:27) - Early Musical Influences 🎧

(36:11) - Listening to music was a luxury 💿💰

(38:20) - An artist that gave you tools 🎨🔧

(44:55) - How I discovered kiwi rap artists (Scribe, Tom Scott) 🥝🎤

(46:45) - Why do Kiwis undervalue local artists? Tall poppy syndrome 🌱🔪

(49:47) - The scene is hard to say the least 🎤😓

(51:19) - Yes, I played at Te Aroha. Let me tell you a story 🎤📖

(55:18) - Having a band is fucken hard 🎸😅

(56:41) - The highs and lows are extreme 🎢

(1:01:11) - Bullying the crowd haha 😂

(1:03:54) - Growing up in rural NZ 🌄

(1:06:56) - Let me tell you a crazy story 😲

(1:06:56) - A kid living with Gangs, What’s that like? 🧒🏽🕶️

(1:12:53) - Drinking Culture in New Zealand 🍻

(1:14:26) - Activating the NZ economy outside major cities 💼

(1:16:10) - Te Puke thunder (Weed) 🌿

(1:18:35) - Moving away from the cycle & chase a dream 🌠

(1:25:30) - Native Cultures - Why do I know how to dance? 🌍🕺🏽

(1:31:20) - Connecting with your Maori Roots & Whakapapa 🌳

(1:38:53) - Maori means normal or original. Tribes 🌏

(1:42:28) - Creative Process 🎨🧠

(1:50:37) - A sneaky jam over a reggae beat. Leshh gooo! Why not 🎸🎤

(1:55:08) - Humor 😂

(1:56:01) - Content Creation (Serving a Purpose) 🎥✨

(2:01:19) - 💧🏃✌🏾 ============================ ABOUT 🫠 THE MELDING MUSE PODCAST 🟢 Melding art & design, music, film, entrepreneurship, fashion, sports, gaming and whatever is in between. We exist to showcase extraordinary people to inspire the next generation of creatives & leaders. These are stories that motivate us to continually challenge ourselves, push boundaries and ultimately reinvent ourselves time and time again. Streaming from the land of the long white cloud - Aotearoa, New Zealand 🇳🇿

🎟️ MERCH OFFICIAL STORE & SITE: 🔗 https://themeldingmuse.co Follow us on: Insta: https://www.instagram.com/themeldingmuse/ | Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@themeldingmuse Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMeldingMuse 🎵 Music: High Ball from Pterror Dak Trill by Nick Maclaren | Trippin' feat. Leroy by Unda A project powered by: 🟩 ⁠⁠Neziak Design ⁠⁠ ▪️ ⁠⁠NZK Creative Collective⁠⁠

Last week I cracked the Weedka bottle as I sat down with the powerful Emma Kirkman. In her own words “A bad as b**** out there living life”. She opened up about her journey of introspection and self-discovery. Driving her down a path of reconstructing her role and the value of great employee experiences. We covered A LOT from AI & the “risks” to facing your fears and realising your ideas. So look down at the timestamps for some of the topics. (03:51) - 🌟 “I’m a badass b**** over here trying to live her best life (Ikigai)

(09:30) - 🔄 Dealing with Change (Self Re-branding & Introspection)

(17:00) - 🚨 WTF is EXD (Employee Experience Design) Crisis #5

(19:20) - 🤝 Understanding the teams you are empowering (from the inside)

(20:26) - 🚀 “I’m resigning from my job on Monday” - Nurturing the inner entrepreneurial spirit

(22:22) - 💡 Small changes, big results. Start by “Doing something.”

(24:22) - 📊 HR data?

(25:14) - 👥 Hiring the right people for the job.

(27:54) - 🕵️‍♂️ Tips to dissect the good interviewers. “I interview like s***”

(30:10) - 🎯 Mission Impossible? What?

(32:10) - 🌐 How other avenues reflect different qualities

(33:40) - 🏠 I did a residential at Stanford

(35:44) - 🦘 Australia is poaching all the talent!

(38:12) - 🌱 Facilitating growth

(41:00) - 🛠️ Wanna be a leader? Taking the strong tech lead and making them people lead. Lol

(42:40) - 📉 Flat(er) org structures - What does this do?

(44:12) - 🤔 Well, what do you do about it tho? If you don’t have those natural leaders

(47:39) - 📏 Are you measuring tho?

(48:57) - 🚫 Don’t you dare talk to my boss!

(50:20) - 🌟 Building that culture that fosters innovation

(52:19) - 🗣️ A small rant before asking about company culture (Weedka kicked in)

(55:39) - 🏢 What can companies do to build “company culture”?

(58:04) - 📢 Company values (show don’t tell)

(59:49) - 🔄 Making tipping points.

(1:01:13) - 🧠 Artificial intelligence and its exponential growth that could lead to…

(1:13:04) - 🕑 Productivity. What’s the big deal? The strategy first.

(1:21:28) - 🌀 Doing agile everywhere. Not impossible.

(1:27:33) - 🎢 Dealing with uncertainty is so important. Especially for leaders.

(1:28:38) - 🔄 Enabling change

(1:32:37) - 💭 Experiencing s*** culture is great. What’s the ROI of this culture bs?

(1:38:20) - 🌟 Making an impact. Being proud of what you do.

(1:43:56) - 📚 Life as a mother. Atomic Habits.

(1:45:00) - 🧊 Cold plunge club

(1:46:30) - 🌬️ Breathing is good. Dah.

(1:49:09) - 💡 I had an Idea. A rant about realizing your ideas and stopping being the blocker of your success.

(1:55:12) - 🚀 Try! Nothing wrong with being rejected

(1:57:59) - 💧 Drink Water, Exercise & Peace! Follow us on: Insta: https://www.instagram.com/themeldingmuse/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@themeldingmuse 🎵 Music: High Ball from Pterror Dak Trill by Nick Maclaren | Trippin' feat. Leroy by Unda A project powered by: 🟩 Neziak Design | http://neziak.design ▪️ NZK Creative Collective | https://neziak.co/

Yes! Finally, a design episode is here and my guest today is none other than Brendan Jarvis. A leading voice in the UX community with his podcast BRAVE UX, but he’s also the guiding force behind UX Research Lab, The Space in Between. ☕️ Over a cup of coffee, We delve into the heart of UX research and its pivotal role in shaping product design. We share our journeys of weaving AI (Artificial Intelligence) into our daily workflows, tackle the challenge of sifting through the clutter to find meaningful insights and discuss the essentials of desirability testing and effective leadership. Whether you're deep in the trenches of product design or just starting, this conversation is packed with practical tips and heartfelt advice to inspire your work. Here is a quick breakdown of some of the topics of our convo: (02:41) - Impact of UX Research on Enterprise Products (05:00) - ROI of UX Research 💸 (07:00) - Don’t blow up research! (08:48) - Proto-personas, Proxi users & more. There is no excuse. But… (10:40) - What people say vs what they do. 🤣 (11:52) - Example of how to turn a UX research sceptic 🤨 (14:49) - Aligning people is hard - The art of conducting alignment sessions. ⏲️ (18:59) - Building the right product in the first place. Desirability testing. 🪚 (23:38) - Be aware of the “L” word 👍 (25:16) - Artificial intelligence (AI) 🤖 (31:47) - How The Space In Between started 🛰️ (34:32) - Why focus on UX research? 🔬 (36:56) - A confronting moment 🍼 (37:44) - What are you now? Designer, Manager, Owner, Researcher or what? (43:24) - Critical thinking. Advice to junior designers (45:01) - Leadership. An honest retrospective. (49:06) - Productivity. Productising life? ✅ (51:27) - Making decisions every day. Cognitive offloading with a twist ✨ (53:12) - Productivity for productivity’s sake is gonna help no one (53:51) - Managing time effectively. Empathize - Define - Ideate - Prototype - Test and Iterate (55:46) - Building STICKY products. But if the user is forced to use your product. What then? (58:15) - Designing a single product for completely different users. (1:03:26) - Exclusive peak into what is coming up next in the BRAVE UX podcast & Melbourne’s DO24 conference. (1:07:07) - Thank you guys for listening 🙏 - Drink water, exercise & ✌🏾

ABOUT 🫠 THE MELDING MUSE PODCAST 🟢 Melding art & design, music, film, entrepreneurship, fashion, sports, gaming and whatever is in between. We exist to showcase extraordinary people to inspire the next generation of creatives & leaders. These are stories that motivate us to continually challenge ourselves, push boundaries and ultimately reinvent ourselves time and time again. Streaming from the land of the long white cloud - Aotearoa, New Zealand 🇳🇿

🎟️ MERCH OFFICIAL STORE & SITE: 🔗 https://themeldingmuse.co Follow us on: Insta: https://www.instagram.com/themeldingmuse/ | Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@themeldingmuse Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMeldingMuse 🎵 Music: High Ball from Pterror Dak Trill by Nick Maclaren | Trippin' feat. Leroy by Unda A project powered by: 🟩 ⁠⁠Neziak Design ⁠⁠ ▪️ ⁠⁠NZK Creative Collective⁠⁠

Fitness journeys like life itself have ups and downs. In this episode, I sat down with former New Zealand Police Officer now BFT studio owner & coach Prakash Hira. We talked about BFT (Body Fit Training) and how their gamified, science-based & technology-driven program helps make exercising FUN and therefore easier to be part of everyday life. This episode is for those keen to make exercising part of their life and for people who want to explore a program designed to deliver results. Making it fun, and building a community that welcomes and inspires you. I discovered this program and it has changed not only my journey but also my friends and family.

By sharing each other’s fitness journeys we discussed:

(02:57) - A Fitness Revolution Begins: Introduction to BFT (05:05) - The Science Behind BFT: Unveiling the Program (09:14) - Technology Meets Fitness: BFT's Heart Rate Monitor ❤️ (18:41) - Community Driven (22:05) - Personal Journeys: Transformations Through BFT (26:03) - From Challenge to Change: A Fitness Revival (30:03) - Balancing Act: Discipline vs. Indulgence in Fitness ⚖️ (34:17) - The BFT Edge: A Holistic Fitness Approach (41:40) - What is progression-based training anyway? 🧐 (49:39) - Beyond the Gym: Learning and Innovation in Fitness (50:10) - Building a Habit - Make it Rewarding 🥰 (51:20) - I lost 20kg because I wanted to fit into an I Love Ugly hoodie. 🤣 (55:00) - Recommendations for someone who wants to start. 😬 (1:00:00) - Nurturing Fitness: Building Lifelong Healthy Habits (1:00:37) - What's gonna happen to my fitness journey if I have kids? 🍼 (1:03:07) - BFT Unlocked. Bring a mate. Try it out (1:05:19) - Personalised Fitness Experience (1:10:00) - The Business of Fitness: Exploring BFT's Franchise Model (1:14:14) - If I want to be a trainer at BFT. How can I do that? 🏋️‍♂️ (1:16:22) - The Challenge (1:21:33) - Tracking calories, what a pain! 🤣 (1:25:33) - Sharpening the saw 🪚 (1:26:32) - Thank you guys for listening 🙏 - Drink water, exercise & ✌🏾 🧤 This episode is NOT sponsored by BFT in any way but if you are keen to get a special May offer click this link here and register. Some great stuff coming up to get you started for cheap. https://www.bft.studio/teatatu/gmb/

Follow us on: Insta: https://www.instagram.com/themeldingmuse Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@themeldingmuse Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YfmwMX... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Amazon: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/a... 🎵 Music: High Ball from Pterror Dak Trill by Nick Maclaren | Trippin' feat. Leroy by Unda A project powered by: 🟩 Neziak Design | http://neziak.design ▪️ NZK Creative Collective | https://neziak.co/