Between Two Beers Podcast

Steven Holloway & Seamus Marten

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

  1. How NZ SAS Lead Psychologist Survived Being Taken Hostage in Syria (Re-Release)

    12/14/2025

    How NZ SAS Lead Psychologist Survived Being Taken Hostage in Syria (Re-Release)

    This week we’re re-releasing one of our most powerful and memorable episodes of the year - a conversation that many of our new listeners may have missed when it first came out. Dr Alia Bojilova is the former Lead Psychologist of the New Zealand SAS, a United Nations peacekeeper, bestselling author of The Resilience Toolkit, and one of the most remarkable humans we’ve ever had on the show. In this episode, Alia takes us inside the extraordinary story of the time she was taken hostage by Syrian rebels while serving with the UN, and how she used curiosity, composure and human connection to survive an ordeal with almost no chance of escape. But this conversation goes far beyond the hostage event. We explore her upbringing in post-communist Bulgaria, elite athletic career, the science behind resilience, her relationship with her husband Jamie (an SAS soldier and former BTB guest), motherhood, leadership, identity, and the psychology of navigating adversity. It’s an episode that has stayed with listeners long after they finished it - and with so many new followers discovering Between Two Beers, we wanted to bring it back into the spotlight. If you’re new to the show, this is one of the most compelling stories we’ve told. If you heard it the first time, it’s well worth revisiting. Enjoy this special re-release with Dr Alia Bojilova. This episode is brought to you by our proud sponsors TAB - and Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    2h 13m
  2. The Community Hero Who Beat a Decade-Long Eating Disorder

    12/07/2025

    The Community Hero Who Beat a Decade-Long Eating Disorder

    This week on Between Two Beers we speak with Carl Sheridan - a low-key legend whose story stopped us in our tracks. Carl is a performance coach, designer, rugby mentor at Te Awamutu College, and a dad from Pirongia who volunteers more than 25 hours a week to help the next generation of young men. He’s what we’d call a community hero - someone who shows up, gives back, and genuinely changes the lives around him. But behind all of that is a tough backstory, Carl has battled depression, anxiety, and a decade-long eating disorder, and has since turned that pain into purpose by mentoring young people who need support the most. His mission is simple: inspire more of us to help in our communities — and make service feel within reach, not out of it. In this episode we talk about what it actually means to live a meaningful life, how to rebuild yourself after your darkest years, the importance of local role models, what drives Carl’s dedication, and the powerful personal manifesto he shares at the end. A quick note: this episode discusses sensitive mental health topics including bulimia, anxiety, and depression. Take it at your own pace, pause if you need to. If anything comes up for you, text or call 1737 any time, or check the support links in the show notes. This episode is brought to you by our proud sponsors TAB - and Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 39m
5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

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

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