Fresh Moni

Fresh Moni

Introducing the Fresh Moni podcast where we are breaking the silence on money. Whether it's personal finance, business, investments, or navigating financial challenges, we'll be talking about it. Hosted by Willie Leota, a Samoan Mortgage Adviser, this podcast is your go-to resource for mastering your finances and building wealth. Get ready for candid conversations, expert insights, and practical tips to empower your financial journey. Welcome to Fresh Moni!

  1. Sep 29

    Sole Traders Get This Wrong! Hnry CEO James Fuller

    What happens when a frustrating problem becomes an idea, and that idea becomes a company helping thousands of sole traders across New Zealand, UK and Australia? In this episode of Fresh Moni, Willie sits down with James Fuller, co-founder of Hnry, to talk about tax, entrepreneurship and what it really takes to build a business from the ground up. James shares the story behind Hnry, the tax and accounting platform designed specifically for sole traders, freelancers and contractors. We unpack one of the biggest challenges for self-employed people: making sure the tax money is actually there when the bill arrives. But this conversation goes well beyond tax. We talk about becoming a sole trader, turning an idea into a real business, growing a startup, hiring your first employees, developing as a leader and building the right team around you. James also shares lessons from raising capital and why founders need to think beyond the cheque when choosing investors. Money matters, but finding investors who understand your vision, values and company culture can matter just as much. We cover:• How Hnry started and the problem James wanted to solve• Why sole traders can easily get caught out by tax• How Hnry automates tax for self-employed people• Going from an idea to an actual startup• The challenges of hiring your first employees• Learning to lead as a founder• Building the right company culture• Raising capital and choosing investors• Why cultural fit matters when taking investment• Lessons James has learned building and scaling Hnry Whether you're a sole trader, freelancer, contractor, startup founder or someone thinking about starting your own business, this episode is packed with practical lessons about money, tax, leadership and entrepreneurship. 🎙️ Fresh Moni is about having honest conversations about money, business and building wealth. Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs, business leaders, financial experts and people changing the way we think about money.

    Sole Traders Get This Wrong! Hnry CEO James Fuller

  2. Sep 13

    Why Knowing About Money Isn’t Enough | Dr Pushpa Wood ONZM

    Why do we know what we should be doing with our money, yet still struggle to actually do it? In this episode of Fresh Moni, Willie sits down with Dr Pushpa Wood ONZM, one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading voices in financial capability and financial education. Together they unpack the gap between financial knowledge and behavioural change, and why simply knowing more about money doesn’t always lead to better financial decisions. They explore how our upbringing, culture, beliefs and personal experiences shape the way we think about money and wealth, including one of the bigger questions many people wrestle with: Is being rich a sin? Dr Pushpa shares her insights into why our relationship with money is about far more than numbers, and what it actually takes to create meaningful, lasting change in our financial lives. A powerful talanoa about money, behaviour, wealth and the beliefs we carry with us. 🎧 Listen now on Fresh Moni.

    Why Knowing About Money Isn’t Enough | Dr Pushpa Wood ONZM

  3. Sep 1

    Lou Walker: “I Have to Pivot Again” | Family, Business & Wellbeing

    She's a mum, businesswoman, Managing Director, and a huge part of the team working behind the scenes alongside her husband, Stan Walker. But how do you manage family, business, opportunity and life in the public eye, while still protecting your own wellbeing? This week on Fresh Moni, Willie sits down with Lou Walker for an open and honest talanoa about navigating the many different seasons of life. Lou shares what it really looks like behind the scenes. Managing business. Supporting family. Working alongside Stan. Making big decisions. And recognising when life is telling you that it's time to pivot again. We talk about the sacrifices that come with success, the importance of protecting your wellbeing, and how your definition of success can change as you move through different stages of life. It's a conversation about whānau, business, wellbeing, change and knowing what really matters. ▶️ Watch the full episode on YouTube 🎧 Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Follow Fresh Moni for more real conversations about money, business, whānau, wellbeing and what wealth really means.

    Lou Walker: “I Have to Pivot Again” | Family, Business & Wellbeing

  4. Aug 20

    He started as an Intern and he is now the Digital Equity GM at Spark NZ - Martin La'a

    Martin shares what life was like growing up, including the reality of what money meant to his family and why even $20 could make a huge difference. We talk about his career journey, from starting out as an intern to building his way through the organisation and eventually stepping into senior leadership at one of New Zealand’s largest companies. But this kōrero is about much more than career progression.We talk about: • Growing up and the values Martin learnt from his family • What money looked like in his household • The sacrifices behind the opportunities • Starting his career as an intern • What it really takes to progress in a large organisation • Leadership and responsibility • Taking opportunities when they appear • Staying connected to where you come from • Purpose, impact and giving back • And, of course, our Fresh Moni signature question: What does wealth mean to you? Martin’s story is a reminder that where you start does not have to determine where you finish. Sometimes the experiences that feel small at the time, including understanding exactly how far $20 needs to stretch, become the experiences that shape the leader you eventually become.🎙️ Fresh Moni with Martin La’aIf you enjoy the kōrero, make sure you LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE this episode with someone who needs to hear it. 👇 Follow Fresh MoniFresh Moni is about breaking the taboo around money and creating more conversations about wealth, financial wellbeing, business, careers and opportunity for our Māori and Pasifika communities.By Pasifika, for Pasifika

    He started as an Intern and he is now the Digital Equity GM at Spark NZ - Martin La'a

  5. Jun 9

    How To Fund And Grow Your Business In NZ | Corinna Stukan - CEO Bizzy

    Most Kiwi business owners think getting finance comes down to one thing: the bank says yes or no. But there's a whole world of lending options out there that most people never even hear about. In this episode of the Fresh Moni Podcast, Willie sits down with Corinna Stukan, co-founder and CEO of Bizzy, the New Zealand lending hub helping small businesses get access to finance and capital so they can actually achieve their goals. With over 17 years in fintech across eBay, CBA x15 Ventures and ASB, Corinna has spent her career making business finance simpler, clearer and fairer for the people doing the mahi. We get into how Bizzy lets you compare real offers from multiple lenders through one application, why traditional lending is still built for big companies with time and teams, and what business owners can do to put themselves in the best position to get funded. Whether you're just starting out, bridging a cashflow gap, buying assets, or chasing growth, this kōrero is for you. In this episode we talk about: How Bizzy connects businesses to multiple lenders with one application Why so many great funding options fly under the radar in NZ The difference between borrowing to survive and borrowing to grow What lenders are really looking at before they fund a business How to compare offers without hurting your credit score Corinna's journey from global fintech to fixing lending for Kiwi businesses This one is for small business owners, founders, side-hustlers, and anyone who has ever felt locked out of finance. Some of us were never taught this stuff, so now we're learning it together. 👉 Check out Bizzy: https://www.bizzyhub.co 👉 More from Fresh Moni: https://www.freshmoni.co.nz 👉 Subscribe for more real money kōrero: This season of Fresh Moni is proudly brought to you by the Booster Foundation, supporting financial empowerment across Aotearoa. New episodes regularly. Follow Fresh Moni and let's make money talk normal, one talanoa at a time. #FreshMoni #BusinessLending #SmallBusinessNZ #BizzyHub #NZBusiness #BusinessFunding #Aotearoa

    How To Fund And Grow Your Business In NZ | Corinna Stukan - CEO Bizzy

  6. May 25

    Most Kiwi's don't know this about your credit score! With Monika Lacey COO of Centrix

    Have you damaged your credit score and don't even know it? Most Kiwis have no idea what's actually hurting their score until they get declined for a home loan, a phone plan, or a car finance. In this episode of the Fresh Moni Podcast, Willie Leota sits down with Monica Lacy, Chief Operating Officer at Centrix, the only New Zealand owned and operated credit bureau, to break down exactly what damages your credit score and what doesn't. We covered the big stuff. The myths every mortgage adviser argues about. The hidden behaviours that quietly chip away at your score. And the simple steps to start rebuilding if you've already done some damage. Monica also shared her own story. Arriving in New Zealand from Poland at two years old. Growing up with not much. And how she ended up running the company that holds the credit reputation of millions of Kiwis. In this episode: - What actually damages your credit score in NZ - Whether credit inquiries still hurt you in 2026 - How buy now pay later is affecting your file - What banks see in the last 24 months of your behaviour - How to recover from a low score - The free way to check yours right now - Monica's personal money lessons This episode is proudly sponsored by the Booster Foundation NZ!! Pull your free credit report at: centrix.co.nz Subscribe to Fresh Moni for real money conversations every week freshmoni.co.nz #freshmoni #creditscore #Centrix #firsthomebuyer #NZFinance #moneytips

    Most Kiwi's don't know this about your credit score! With Monika Lacey COO of Centrix

  7. May 12

    "Dear Vodafone, You Suck" | Jason Paris CEO of One NZ - Who Read His Own Hate Mail Out Loud

    He walked into the company and started his first big presentation with three words: "Dear Vodafone, you suck." Then he read the hate mail out loud. The complaints. The dropped calls. The bad service. Even the ones that said "Paris, you're an idiot, I hope you fail." Why? Because that's how Jason Paris, CEO of One New Zealand, decided to lead. In this episode of Fresh Moni, Willie Leota sits down with one of Aotearoa's most respected business leaders for a kōrero that goes way deeper than telco. We talk about being raised by a 16-year-old solo mum in Invercargill. Growing up in social welfare housing. Getting rejected from teachers' college. Building a career on relationships, not a degree. And the day he said no to an Elon Musk rocket launch invite because his daughter had a Year 6 graduation. This one is real. Jason holds nothing back. 🔥 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ✅ Why Jason has "imposter syndrome" even as a CEO ✅ The 3 things his upbringing gave him that built his leadership ✅ How to have hard conversations without losing the relationship ✅ Why asking for help is the hardest skill to learn ✅ The 4 things every customer actually wants (and why most companies miss them) ✅ The real reason Vodafone became One New Zealand (and the $30 million bill behind it) ✅ How to save money on your phone and broadband right now ✅ What banks, employers and CEOs are really looking for in 2026 ✅ Why AI will change everything in the next 10 years ✅ The leadership lesson Jason wishes someone told him at 18 If you have ever felt like you started behind, this episode is for you. If you have ever doubted whether you belong in the room, this is for you. And if you have ever wanted to know what actually makes a great leader, press play. ONE NZ https://one.nz/ reach out if you need any help! 📲 FOLLOW FRESH MONI Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_fresh_moni_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fresshmonii LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willieleota/ Website: https://www.freshmoni.co.nz/ 🙏 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR This episode is proudly supported by the Booster Foundation who support our kaupapa! #FreshMoni #JasonParis #OneNZ

    "Dear Vodafone, You Suck" | Jason Paris CEO of One NZ - Who Read His Own Hate Mail Out Loud

  8. Apr 28

    What you need to know when the Debt Collector comes knocking! With Chris Fifita

    Have you ever had a debt collector knock at your door? In this episode, Willie Leota sits down with Chris Fifita from Debt Managers. They talk about what it's really like being a debt collector, why Pacific families avoid debt, the impact of fa'alavelave on financial decisions, and how Debt Managers is changing the game with debt mentors who genuinely want to help people find a way forward. This is one of those conversations that will change how you see debt. Debt Managers: https://www.debtmanagers.co.nz | 0800 683 738 Proudly sponsored by Booster Foundation NZ, supporting financial resilience across Aotearoa. https://www.boosterfoundation.org 🌐 Fresh Moni: https://www.freshmoni.co.nz ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@willieleotafreshmoni 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ITXZVQZz1L7yYtdFEq8lo

    What you need to know when the Debt Collector comes knocking! With Chris Fifita
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About

Introducing the Fresh Moni podcast where we are breaking the silence on money. Whether it's personal finance, business, investments, or navigating financial challenges, we'll be talking about it. Hosted by Willie Leota, a Samoan Mortgage Adviser, this podcast is your go-to resource for mastering your finances and building wealth. Get ready for candid conversations, expert insights, and practical tips to empower your financial journey. Welcome to Fresh Moni!

Information

  • Creator
    Fresh Moni
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    41
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    Fresh Moni

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