Share
Between Two Beers Podcast
Kendra Cocksedge: I'm not done yet
Ep. 97
•
Kendra Cocksedge is the most capped Black Fern of all time and their record point scorer who recently announced her retirement from rugby after a stellar career.
In 2019 she became the first female player to win the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Trophy for New Zealand rugby player of the year. She was also recognised by World Rugby as the International Women’s Player of the Year in 2015 and was named as part of the World Rugby Team of the Decade for the 2010s.
Growing up playing with boys in Taranaki from the age of four, Kendra turned away from a promising cricket career when she was called up by the Black Ferns in 2007 and learned valuable lessons from nine years sitting on the bench. Eventually, she rose to the very top of the game leading the haka in Christchurch in front of her proud parents and enjoying a fairytale end to her domestic rugby career. But Kendra is not done yet, with one more World Cup assignment ahead of her.
This episode was in paid partnership with Rexona NZ, with Kendra charting her experiences in overcoming barriers along her journey in association with Rexona NZ's #NotDoneYet campaign.
Show notes | Episode 97 | Kendra Cocksedge
2:27: NotDoneYet
8:59: A few tales from Kendra: school days, prank wars, axes and bike ramps
17:08: Leading the haka
23:11: Celine Dion
25:52: A fairytale finish to a Canterbury career
31:16: Back to barefoot rugby in Okato
41:34: The cricket career that could have been
45:58: Entering the Black Ferns environment at age 19
51:01: Mental health
54:17: Playing in Club footy
55:44: Nine years as a back up Black Fern
58:20: Taking a break from rugby
59:36: The changing perceptions of women’s rugby
1:07:07: Winning the World Rugby Player of the Year in 2015…
1:10:34 …and then backing it up with the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Trophy in 2018
1:19:47: The effect of Covid-19 on Kendra
1:21:35: If you can see it you can be it
1:24:18: The physical toll of 30 years in rugby
1:27:48: Nicknames
1:31:22: Last words from Steven, Seamus and Kendra
More episodes
View all episodes
Ali Williams' Best All Blacks Stories, Launching Auckland FC & Losing His Father (Re-Release)
01:44:07|This week we’re re-releasing a classic episode with All Black legend Ali Williams, initially recorded in 2024.At the time of recording, Ali had recently launched Auckland FC with his wife Anna Mowbray, so we dive deep into his goals and vision for the team (much of which has come to fruition since). We also go into the best stories from across his rugby and All Blacks career, as well as an open conversation about the loss of his father.This episode is brought to you by our proud sponsors TAB - and Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.
244. Best of 2025 - Culture: Simon Barnett, Toni Street, Al Brown & More!
02:21:52||Ep. 244We’re back with another compilation of our favourite moments from the epic year that was 2025.This time, we’ve canvassed some highlights from our incredible guests across the realms of business, entertainment, and culture, including:Simon BarnettJay ReeveToni StreetGreg ForanBill BaileyGirls Get OffAl BrownJared SavageBrent ImpeyDr. Alia BojilovaGeoff RossWe hope you enjoy the recap and stay tuned for brand new episodes coming soon, happy holidays!This episode is brought to you by our proud sponsors TAB - and Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.
243. Best of 2025 - Sport: Steve Williams, Dame Noeline Taurua, Ryan Fox & More!
02:09:56||Ep. 243What a year! We’ve had the privilege of speaking to some of New Zealand’s best and brightest sporting stars in 2025, so we’re proud to present a compilation of some of our favourite moments from across the year, including:Steve WilliamsRyan FoxDame Noeline TauruaIan FosterMarius van der PolSarah WalkerSean FitzpatrickGilbert EnokaClayton McMillanGordon WalkerWe hope you enjoy the recap, stay tuned for another Best of 2025 episode coming next week too!This episode is brought to you by our proud sponsors TAB - and Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.
63. Surprise… Seamus Had a Baby! Why He’s Kept It a Secret
41:36||Ep. 63It’s the final Hambassadors episode of the year, and Seamus drops a bombshell.After keeping it quiet for nine months, Seamus reveals he’s had a baby, sharing what life has been like behind the scenes and how he managed to keep such a massive moment under wraps.The boys also take time to reflect on the year that’s been - the highs, the challenges, what they’ve learned, and how Hambassadors has grown along the way. Most importantly, they say a huge thank you to everyone who’s listened, supported, and been part of the journey in 2025.Enjoy, and we’ll see you in the new year. 🍻Hambassadors is brought to you by Stark and Between Two Beers is brought to you by our proud sponsors TAB.Steve and Seamus are dressed by Barkers.
How NZ SAS Lead Psychologist Survived Being Taken Hostage in Syria (Re-Release)
02:12:55|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.
36. Flow State, Introversion & The Lessons We’re Taking Into 2026 - Steve & Di’s 1:1
01:04:23||Ep. 36It’s our last episode of ABO for 2025! Steve and Di look back on a defining year of podcasting and the lessons that will shape what comes next. From finding flow state and working as an introvert, to protecting creative energy, navigating pressure, and building a sustainable pace.Steve opens up about the personal and professional growth he’s experienced through the OMP business course from the Icehouse, how his approach to creative work has shifted, and why the next year is less about doing more and more about doing what matters.We also chat about prioritising wellbeing, avoiding burnout, creating space for creativity, and maintaining purpose.Thank you to everyone who tuned into the show this year, we love what we’re building and can’t wait to be back in 2026!This episode is brought to you by our proud sponsors TAB - and Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.
242. The Community Hero Who Beat a Decade-Long Eating Disorder
01:39:25||Ep. 242This 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.
62. 2022 vs 2025: The Decision That Changed Our Lives
43:19||Ep. 62In this reflective episode of Hambassadors, Steve and Seamus look back on where they were in 2022 living in different cities, unsure of the future, juggling day jobs - and compare it to where they are now, closing out 2024 with a full-time podcast business, a team, and a clearer sense of purpose.The conversation centres around their first ever coaching experience with Shaun Goldsbury, who helped them start to think seriously about vision, values and what might actually be possible if they backed themselves. A voice note from Shaun brings some of those early ideas back to the surface - and prompts a conversation about how much has changed (and what hasn’t) in just three years.There’s also a voice note from Luke Kemeys (Keep The Change), sharing his own reflections on growth and how looking back can help shape what comes next.Plus: stories from their BetterMan keynote, Barkers suit fittings, 12 Pubs of Christmas, and a great listener Q&A.This is the second-to-last Hambassadors of the year, with one more to come before the break.Hambassadors is brought to you by Stark. Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers and this episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on.
241. The Wild Life of Laura McGoldrick: Mum Guilt, Media Chaos & Parenting with Martin Guptill
01:34:49||Ep. 241Laura McGoldrick lives one of the busiest lives in New Zealand media - juggling motherhood, broadcasting, live sport, travel, and a calendar that barely leaves room to breathe. But behind the glamour, highlights and viral moments, Laura opens up about something most parents know all too well: the constant feeling of Mum Guilt. Laura shares the reality of parenting with Martin Guptill, raising their kids around sport, and the pressure of trying to be everywhere at once.She talks about the moments that have shaped her, the chaos of her job, and the stories she has never shared publicly until now – including a wild Vegas trip, a knockout moment at the Cricket World Cup, and the best advice she ever received from legendary broadcaster Phillip Leishman.This episode is brought to you by the TAB. Got a hunch? Download the new app today and get your bet on. Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers.