Stretton Unfiltered

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

  1. Ep 20: Matt Stark on Losing $1M and Reshaping Hamilton

    1D AGO

    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 Lane and MADE in Hamilton East. Matt shares the raw reality behind building a business, the early days of uncertainty, and how a long-term belief in Hamilton’s city centre shaped everything that followed. We explore the $110M deal, the failures that came before success, and why he believes retail, community, and city making are still deeply human at their core. We explore: Losing everything in his early 20s and starting again.The mindset shift from survival to city shaping.Why Riverbank Lane became a turning point for Hamilton CBD.The thinking behind MADE and its evolving ecosystem of makers and retailers.Decisions that prioritised people over profit.Why relationships, not rent, have driven long-term success.And what comes next when you’ve already built more than you ever planned.This is a story about risk, resilience, and rebuilding a city one decision at a time. Connect with us on socials 🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Instagram 🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Facebook 🌸 Annah Stretton TikTok 🌸 Annah Stretton Instagram 🌸 Annah Stretton Facebook 🌸 Join our VIP page 🌸 www.annahstretton.co.nz SHOP OUR BOOKS 📖 Rag Trade To Mag Trade: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Grit Before Grace: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Wise Heart: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚

    57 min
  2. Ep 19: Breaking The Cycle Of Crime – 12 Yrs Inside Prison With NZ's Most Complex Women

    MAY 6

    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 2014, RAW has challenged that narrative. What started as a response to intergenerational offending, violence, poverty, and limited opportunity has grown into a deeply connected  and successful model of reintegration. One grounded in inclusion, accountability, community, and real pathways forward. In this episode, we speak honestly about the early chaos, the missteps, and the lessons learned inside the prison system. We unpack the realities of working within prison walls, supporting women inside and at the point of release, and building trust where it has largely been broken. We talk about the transitional homes, the farm sanctuary, and the long-term commitment required to support change beyond the gate. This is not a polished success story. It is a real account of what it takes to interrupt cycles of crime and create possibility. RAW is more than a charity. It is a lifelong living system of support, shaped by the women themselves, and grounded in pono, tika, and aroha. Connect with us on socials 🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Instagram 🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Facebook 🌸 Annah Stretton TikTok 🌸 Annah Stretton Instagram 🌸 Annah Stretton Facebook 🌸 Join our VIP page 🌸 www.annahstretton.co.nz SHOP OUR BOOKS 📖 Rag Trade To Mag Trade: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Grit Before Grace: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Wise Heart: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚

    57 min
  3. Ep 18: 37 Years In Prison…Rebuilding A Life After Incarceration

    APR 29

    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 level of honesty that is both confronting and deeply grounding.  This is not about excuses. It’s about context. It’s about understanding what sits behind behaviour… and what it actually takes to change. What emerges is something many people never see…the long, lonely work of rebuilding a life. The discipline it takes to walk away from everything you’ve known. And the reality that change is possible… but only if you choose it. A conversation about survival, systems, responsibility… and what it really means to start again. Connect with us on socials 🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Instagram 🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Facebook 🌸 Annah Stretton TikTok 🌸 Annah Stretton Instagram 🌸 Annah Stretton Facebook 🌸 Join our VIP page 🌸 www.annahstretton.co.nz SHOP OUR BOOKS 📖 Rag Trade To Mag Trade: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Grit Before Grace: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Wise Heart: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚

    1h 3m

  4. APR 22

    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 historically overlooked mature women. This is a story about: Starting with just 11 models and building something meaningfulThe shift towards diversity and representation in fashionThe emotional reality behind running a solo businessWhy women don’t “age out” anymoreAnd what it really looks like to close a business with graceIt’s honest, reflective, and quietly powerful.Because this isn’t just about modelling. It’s about visibility, identity, and the courage to evolve. Connect with us on socials 🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Instagram 🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Facebook 🌸 Annah Stretton TikTok 🌸 Annah Stretton Instagram 🌸 Annah Stretton Facebook 🌸 Join our VIP page 🌸 www.annahstretton.co.nz SHOP OUR BOOKS 📖 Rag Trade To Mag Trade: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Grit Before Grace: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Wise Heart: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚

    50 min
  5. Ep 16: Haley Bicknell & Punnet Cafe: Booked Out To Burnt Out

    APR 15

    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 beginnings on a strawberry farm to a multi-layered business employing 40 staff, Haley shares what it really takes to build something that lasts. This is a conversation grounded in the realities of running a high-volume, people-driven business, where growth doesn’t always feel like success, and where burnout can sit just beneath the surface. Together, they unpack: Why “being busy” doesn’t always mean being profitableThe power of defining a clear core purpose and actually living itWhat it takes to scale a business while maintaining consistencyThe hidden toll of customer-facing roles and leadership burnoutHow stepping back, not pushing harder, can sometimes save a businessWhy hiring well and building the right team changes everythingHaley also shares her experience of hitting breaking point, putting the business on the market, and ultimately choosing to rebuild it differently, with stronger systems, better support, and a renewed sense of purpose. For business owners and operators, this episode is a reminder that longevity isn’t about chasing growth. It’s about creating something people genuinely want to be part of, and building a team that can carry it with you. A thoughtful, honest conversation about business, resilience, and redefining what success actually looks like. Connect with us on socials 🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Instagram 🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Facebook 🌸 Annah Stretton TikTok 🌸 Annah Stretton Instagram 🌸 Annah Stretton Facebook 🌸 Join our VIP page 🌸 www.annahstretton.co.nz SHOP OUR BOOKS 📖 Rag Trade To Mag Trade: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Grit Before Grace: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Wise Heart: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚

    45 min

  6. APR 8

    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 felt impossible to escape. We talk about the quiet realities so many women carry, staying when it hurts, protecting children while breaking inside, and the invisible weight of believing you’re not worthy of more. Nikki opens up about life alongside Ben through prison, addiction, violence, and the turning point that changed everything. Not overnight, not easily, but through accountability, honesty, and the slow rebuild of two people choosing something different. This is a conversation about survival, about what it costs to stay and rebuilding yourself from nothing. It’s also about hope. About forgiveness. About the possibility of change, even when everything says otherwise. And most importantly, it’s a reminder that if you are in something hard, you are not alone. There is support. There are people who will stand beside you. Taking that first step is enough. If you’ve ever questioned your worth, stayed longer than you should have, or wondered if life can look different, this conversation is for you. Resonated with something in this conversation? Explore more of the work we do with RAW here: www.raw.org.nz Where to get help? waikatowomensrefuge.co.nz 24 HOUR CRISIS HOTLINE: 07 855 1569 Connect with us on socials 🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Instagram 🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Facebook 🌸 Annah Stretton TikTok 🌸 Annah Stretton Instagram 🌸 Annah Stretton Facebook 🌸 www.annahstretton.co.nz SHOP OUR BOOKS 📖 Rag Trade To Mag Trade: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Grit Before Grace: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Wise Heart: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚

    46 min

  7. APR 1

    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 all at once. Not dramatically.But slowly. A business growing faster than the support around it. A refusal to ask for help. A belief that it can still be fixed. Until it can’t. What follows is a journey through the justice system, prison, and everything that comes after.The reality of being seen differently.The weight of rebuilding.And the quiet work of starting again. Because this is not a story about failure. It is about what happens when capable women carry too much, for too long…and what it takes to rebuild from there. Through RAW, this is something we see often. Not women defined by their worst moment. But women who choose, step by step, to move beyond it. Take a moment to listen. Resonated with something in this conversation? Explore more of the work we do with RAW here: ⁠www.raw.org.nz⁠ Where to get help? ⁠waikatowomensrefuge.co.nz⁠ ⁠24 HOUR CRISIS HOTLINE: 07 855 1569⁠ Connect with us on socials 🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Instagram 🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Facebook 🌸 Annah Stretton TikTok 🌸 Annah Stretton Instagram 🌸 Annah Stretton Facebook 🌸 Join our VIP page 🌸 www.annahstretton.co.nz SHOP OUR BOOKS 📖 Rag Trade To Mag Trade: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Grit Before Grace: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Wise Heart: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚

    42 min

  8. MAR 25

    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 woman’s shape, but for her story.That what she wears can lift her up, restore confidence, and help her step back into her own light. But what truly sets this experience apart is the people behind it. Our retail teams are not there to simply sell clothes.They are carefully chosen, developed, and empowered to deliver something far greater, an experience that meets women exactly where they are, and helps them see themselves again. Angela shares what really happens behind the fitting room curtain…The quiet moments.The turning points.The transformations. For business owners, this episode offers a powerful look at a retail model that prioritises connection over transaction, and shows how investing in exceptional sales teams can elevate an entire brand experience. Because when your people are exceptional, your retail becomes unforgettable. This conversation is a reminder that great retail is not just about product.It is about purpose, people, and the courage to do it differently. Connect with us on socials 🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Instagram 🎧 Stretton Unfiltered Facebook 🌸 Annah Stretton TikTok 🌸 Annah Stretton Instagram 🌸 Annah Stretton Facebook 🌸 Join our VIP page 🌸 www.annahstretton.co.nz SHOP OUR BOOKS 📖 Rag Trade To Mag Trade: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Grit Before Grace: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚 Wise Heart: Ebook available here Order the physical book here 📚

    54 min
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Trailer

About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Stretton Unfiltered
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Stretton Unfiltered
  • Show Website
    Stretton Unfiltered

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