Hunger & Heart with Kaila Colbin

Dame Susan Devoy: “It sort of broke me, but I wouldn't admit that at the time”

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:30:00 GMT

Dame Susan Devoy dominated international squash through the 1980s: world number one for nearly a decade, four-time world champion, eight-time British Open winner, and the most decorated player in New Zealand squash history.

Her achievements were recognised with numerous honours, and she went on to serve in prominent leadership roles — including five years as New Zealand's Race Relations Commissioner.

In this conversation, Kaila and Dame Susan explore:

what it took to leave New Zealand and become world champion at just 17,
the specific techniques her parents used to build both fierce independence and wild ambition, and
how she sees her journey differently in hindsight.

A huge thanks to Celebrity Speakers for supporting this episode. If you want to book Dame Susan for a keynote and leave your audience buzzing, visit celebrityspeakers.co.nz.

Hunger & Heart is brought to you by the Crusaders Leadership Programme™. Whether you're coaching under-5s or a professional team, we all want the same thing: to build cultures of trust, get the best out of our people, and grow players into leaders.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You'll connect with a global group of ambitious, caring coaches from a range of codes and backgrounds, and most importantly, you'll gain skills and techniques to drive impact and outcomes for your team.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ is a two-week high-intensity virtual experience. It is delivered exclusively online, accessible from anywhere.

Hunger and heart Listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kieran Read: “We lost that ability to get the best outta our people”

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Kieran Read is rugby royalty: former Crusaders captain, former All Blacks captain, one of the most capped players of all time, and the fifth most capped All Black in history.

He played 127 Tests, scored 26 international tries, and is one of only 45 players worldwide to have won multiple men’s Rugby World Cups.

In this conversation, Kaila and Kieran explore:

the specific techniques the Crusaders use to create belonging,
the link between care and high standards, and
how lessons from elite rugby translate into the business world.

If you’re interested in Kieran’s leadership programming, visit kieranread.co.nz.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ is a two-week high-intensity virtual experience. It is delivered exclusively online, accessible from anywhere.

Hunger and heart Listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marina Erakovic: “You’re all alone out there, you have no team”

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 21:08:55 GMT

Marina Erakovic spent a decade ranked inside the world's top 100 tennis players. She competed in 36 Grand Slams, reached a career-high ranking of 39, and won 9 WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) and 18 ITF (International Tennis Federation) titles.

Marina represented New Zealand at two Olympic Games and one Commonwealth Games, and played more than 600 main draw singles matches, including 44 at Grand Slam level.

In this conversation, Kaila and Marina explore:

her family's immigration story,
what it's really like trying to make it in a massive global sport when New Zealand has almost no support or infrastructure,
the sacrifices that made her career possible, and the pressure that came along with those sacrifices, and,
why tennis was the right fit for her — how it matched the way her brain works, why it lit her up, and how, over time, she learned to grow not just as an athlete, but as a person.

A huge thanks to Celebrity Speakers for supporting this episode. If you want to book Marina for a keynote and leave your audience buzzing, visit celebrityspeakers.co.nz.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ is a two-week high-intensity virtual experience. It is delivered exclusively online, accessible from anywhere.

Hunger and heart Listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugo Inglis: ”Winning was the number one thing”

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Hugo Inglis is a four-time Olympian who represented New Zealand in field hockey, earning more than 250 caps for the national team and winning both silver and bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games. He's also the co-founder of High Impact Athletes.

In this conversation, Hugo and Kaila talk about:

how his competitiveness with his brother led him into elite hockey,
his move from measuring success externally to internally, and
how he’s empowering athletes to make a measurable difference in the world.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ is a two-week high-intensity virtual experience. It is delivered exclusively online, accessible from anywhere.

Hunger and heart Listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alice Soper: “How dare these women?”

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 18:49:54 GMT

Alice Soper has been playing rugby in Wellington women’s teams since she was 13 years old; she’s played Sevens and 15s and she’s also played in England.

She’s a freelance journalist, a content creator, and a staunch advocate for getting women over the advantage line.

In this conversation, we talk about:

the fact that the All Blacks are NOT the winningest team of all time,
the difference between a team-first and a personality-first strategy, and
the specific tactics the Tokomanawa Queens basketball team use to create a sense of fun and belonging.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kaila Colbin & Hannah Hudson: Are your goals driving you…or holding you back

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 04:07:20 GMT

Last episode, Kaila spoke with Don Tricker, who said something that caught her attention: the only reason to have process-driven goals is in service of an ambitious outcome.

In fact, focusing on process while excluding outcome may be a cop-out.

Goal-setting is something Kaila and Boma educational designer Hannah Hudson have talked about for years, but Kaila’s conversation with Don sparked a new exploration of how goals can be defined and what “winning” truly looks like.

In this episode, Kaila and Hannah unpack:

the difference between process- and outcome-driven goals,
how goals link to ambition and motivation,
the connection between goals, self identity and worthiness, and
why setting ambitious goals is scary.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Don Tricker: “I want to be part of an organisation that empowers our people to be extraordinary.”

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 16:30:00 GMT

Don Tricker was a former player and coach of the Black Sox, New Zealand's national softball team.

Don worked in IT for a number of years before joining Sport and Recreation New Zealand. After playing a crucial role in the analysis of New Zealand's disappointing performance at the 2007 Men's Rugby World Cup, he was appointed by New Zealand Rugby as High Performance Manager in 2010.

In 2018, he shifted gears again and moved to the United States, joining Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres as Director of Player Health and Performance.

In this episode, Don talks about:

an extremely specific six-step process to break down a big-picture vision into tangible efforts (seriously, this is one you can take away and apply straight away in your context),
culture-building actions that he calls "low cost, massive return," and
the emotional price of high performance and how to pay that price guilt-free.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shane Fletcher: “It's not about positive or negative leadership, it's about constructive or destructive leadership.”

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 16:30:00 GMT

The legendary Shane Fletcher — or “Fletch” is the High Performance Campaign Manager for the Black Ferns, both the XV and the Sevens. He was the team manager for the Crusaders for 8 years; his tenure there included their 7-in-a-row championship run.

Fletch is also one of the extraordinary teaching assistants on the Crusaders Leadership Programme™, so someone we get the privilege of working with on a regular basis.

In today’s episode, Fletch talks about:

going from 7 championships in a row to not making the playoffs,
how identifying leaders can actually undermine group performance, and
how to develop true performance language

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shane Bond: “You have to present yourself with an air of confidence. If you don't, they won't respect you.”

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 16:30:00 GMT

Shane Bond is a legend of New Zealand cricket, widely accepted as one of the greatest fast bowlers of his era. Currently, he has the second best bowling strike rate of all time in test match cricket. He played for the New Zealand Black Caps in Test, One Day International and T20. To this day, he is the fastest New Zealander to take a hundred wickets in One Day Internationals, achieving that feat in just 54 matches.

In today’s episode, Shane talks about:

the difference between playing to win and playing not to lose,
how his training as a cop helped him cope with the pressure of international cricket, and
why one of his goals as a coach is not to go harder, but to soften.

A huge thanks to Celebrity Speakers for supporting this episode. If you want to book Shane for a keynote and leave your audience buzzing, visit celebrityspeakers.co.nz.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shane Cameron: “I was the major underdog. How the hell can you beat the guy who beat you?”

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 16:30:00 GMT

Known as the Mountain Warrior, Shane Cameron was the Commonwealth cruiserweight champion and held the WBO Oriental, WBO Asia-Pacific and IBF Pan-Pacific titles. Today, he’s a businessman, with ventures including the Shane Cameron Fitness gym and the Counterpunch boxing range.

In today’s episode, Shane talks about:

his rural upbringing and how he felt like — in his words — the “dumbest kid in school,”
the fight of the century and what he regrets about his behaviour in the lead-up to that event, and
his depression following his world championship fight with Danny Green, and how he came back from it.

A huge thanks to Celebrity Speakers for supporting this episode. If you want to book Shane for a keynote and leave your audience buzzing, visit celebrityspeakers.co.nz.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Todd Astle: “We're gonna fail more than we succeed in sport and life, so let's do it on our own terms.”

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 16:30:00 GMT

Todd Astle is a former professional cricketer; playing Test, ODI, and T20 cricket for the New Zealand Black Caps. In 2023, alongside his brother Ryan and his mate Ged Robinson, Todd co-founded BetterMan, a not-for-profit delivering BYC — betterment, yarns and competition — for men in Christchurch.

In this episode, Todd talks about:

what it was like to get four ducks in a row (of the cricketing variety),
the PERMA-V model of positive psychology,
his secret sauce for getting men to open up and share more of themselves.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Karameli Faaee: “It's about training to be present under pressure.”

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 16:30:00 GMT

Karameli Faaee is one of the most successful international rugby players in US history. As captain of the USA Women’s Eagles, she led the team to fourth place in the 2017 Rugby World Cup, their first time making it to the semifinals in nearly 20 years. She then went into coaching and became the first-ever women’s coach of a US professional men’s rugby team, Rugby United New York.

In this episode, Karameli talks about:

The connection between emotions and performance,
The difference between coaching men and women,
What happened when she had to face the Black Ferns' haka.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hannah Hudson: "You have no idea the impact you can have"

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 16:30:00 GMT

We’ve just returned from the U.S., where we filmed content in collaboration with the U.S. Soccer Foundation. Our work together focuses on the Yes Coach! initiative, which has a target of upskilling 100,000 coach-mentors across the United States by 2030.

We interviewed 10 players and coaches, from grassroots to pro levels, and were struck by how many parallels we saw with past Hunger & Heart guests.

This week on the pod, Kaila and Boma Educational Designer Hannah Hudson unpack core insights from their trip — including:

What makes “tough love” work
When to apply a mindset of minimising mistakes vs. maximising opportunities
The profound impact coaches can have

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're in Seattle and will be back next week!

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 20:51:40 GMT

This week, no new Hunger & Heart episode. Kaila checks in from Seattle, where she’s been filming with an incredible crew and extraordinary coaches and athletes. Stay tuned, we’ll be back next week!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zoë McBride: “I just don’t wanna do this anymore”

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:30:00 GMT

Zoë McBride is a double world champion in the women's lightweight single scull rowing. She held the world record in the lightweight single scull and is only the second New Zealander to win a double national championship in both the lightweight and premier single sculls.

Zoë stepped away from rowing in 2021 and has been open about how the need to make weight took its toll, not only on her body, but also on her soul.

In this episode, Zoe shares her heart-wrenching journey. Her hope is that it might be useful for anyone else facing similar struggles. It’s a searingly honest conversation, and ultimately an uplifting one.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Campbell Johnstone: “The easiest part of being an All Black is becoming an All Black.”

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 17:30:00 GMT

Campbell Johnstone played for the Crusaders in 2004 and for the All Blacks in 2005. In 2023, he came out as the first openly gay All Black and made headlines around the world.

In this episode, Campbell talks about:

The surprising way his older brother reacted when he came out
How he let himself down in his goal to become an All Black
The remarkable support he received from the rugby community

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Wayne Smith tells the extraordinary story of the Kobelco Steelers: “The company was gonna dissolve within 67 days.”

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 17:30:00 GMT

On the Crusaders Leadership Programme™, you get two live, one-hour, Ask-Me-Anything sessions with our faculty, including Sir Wayne Smith, who we featured on Episode 5 of the podcast.

For today's episode, we are pulling a clip from one of those Ask-Me-Anything sessions where Smithy talks about his experience coaching the Kobelco Steelers, the rugby team for the Kobe Steel Company in Japan.

It’s an extraordinary story.

Smithy arrived to a team that had lost its connection, that was complacent, that was entitled.

He turned it around in the most profound way, going back into the company's history to find something they could play for that was bigger than them.

The lessons in this story apply to anyone who's interested in theming specifically, but also in culture building more broadly, and how we connect culture to the bigger picture of the world around us. It's a beautiful story. It's just 10 minutes. We can't wait for you to hear it.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DJ Forbes: “We’ve got an opportunity to create a bit of history”

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 17:30:00 GMT

DJ Forbes is Rugby Sevens royalty. He played in 512 games in 89 tournaments, winning six World Series. Last year he was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame.

In this episode, DJ talks about:

The influence of his Samoan culture on his leadership
Coming to grips with the idea of captaining his nation
What surprised him in going from player to captain to coach

A huge thanks to Celebrity Speakers for supporting this episode. If you want to book DJ for a keynote and bring his special brand of leadership to your audience, visit celebrityspeakers.co.nz.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Raelene Castle: “You spend a lot of time in the pain cave”

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 17:30:00 GMT

Raelene Castle is a woman of firsts: first female CEO of a club in the National Rugby League, the first female CEO of Rugby Australia, and the first female CEO of Sport New Zealand. She’s also unafraid to take on gnarly issues, operating at the centre of the storm for some of the biggest controversies and challenges on the world stage with a near-supernatural level of grace and steadiness.

In this episode, Raelene talks about.

How her parents helped her cultivate a passion for debate
How to stay calm when everything seems to be falling apart
What she learned from her closest advisors

A huge thanks to Celebrity Speakers for supporting this episode. If you want to book Raelene for a keynote and challenge your leadership to the next level, visit celebrityspeakers.co.nz.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rob Penney: “It wasn’t about who I was, it was about my effect on other people”

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 17:30:00 GMT

Rob Penney just finished his 2nd year as head coach of the Crusaders.

Year One: the team didn't make it to the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade.

Year Two: complete turnaround, won the championship.

Huge credit of course has to go to Colin Mansbridge, Angus Gardiner, Brent Francis, and the entire leadership team for keeping their cool, understanding what needed to be done, and staying the course. But of course Rob was the man at the centre of the storm — and he handled it about as well as a mortal red-blooded human could handle it.

In this episode, Rob talks about:

The shift from being driven by hate for the enemy to being driven by love of the game
How he learned to cope with the pressure of professional coaching
What happened in the off-season to turn things around from 2024 to 2025

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kathrine Switzer: “It’s not about going fast, it’s about finishing the job”

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 17:30:00 GMT

Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon in 1967 — and had to literally fight off a race official to do so. Because of her, millions of women are now empowered by the simple act of running.

In this episode, Kathrine talks about:

How her parents empowered her to think differently about what was possible
How she has continued to leverage her experience to expand access to more women
Forgiveness

A huge thanks to Celebrity Speakers for supporting this episode. If you want to book Kathrine for a keynote and leave your audience beyond inspired, visit celebrityspeakers.co.nz. You can find Kathrine’s nonprofit at https://www.261fearless.org/.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Barbara Kendall: “The bigger the event, the bigger the fall”

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 01:19:36 GMT

New Zealand windsurfing icon Barbara Kendall won Olympic gold in 1992 — the first Kiwi woman to win gold in any sport in more than 40 years, and only the second woman ever to do so. She is a 5x Olympian with 25 national titles and 11 world championship medals. She was also the first woman inducted into the world Sailing Hall of Fame.

In this episode, Barbara talks about:

The impact of nearly dying on a yacht with her entire family
How we can better set young people up for success
The specific characteristics that made her coaches so outstanding

A huge thanks to Celebrity Speakers for supporting this episode. If you want to book Barbara for a keynote and leave your audience buzzing, visit celebrityspeakers.co.nz.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian Jones: “None of us should chase other people’s normal”

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 17:30:00 GMT

Ian Jones MNZM is one of New Zealand's most capped locks, with 105 games and 79 tests for the All Blacks. Known as Kamo, Ian played for the Chiefs from 1996 to 1999, and is now a rugby commentator for Sky Sports as well as General Manager of the All Blacks Experience in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

In this episode, Ian talks about:

What it takes to be an All Black
What his most impactful coaches had in common
What the haka really means

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anna Galvan: “She made me want to be the best I could be”

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Anna Galvan's netball career spanned 17 years. She played for the Southern Sting and for the Canterbury Flames, later the Canterbury Tactix. As a Silver Fern representing New Zealand, she competed at the Commonwealth Games in 2002, where New Zealand lost the final in heartbreaking double overtime to Australia.

In this episode, Anna talks about:

That silver medal.
The challenge of balancing motherhood with being a professional netballer.
How she supports the next generation of athletes.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tori Moorby: "I've got one shot at this. How good could I be?"

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Tori Moorby has been dominating the javelin throw in New Zealand since March of 2014 when she first broke the New Zealand record. She was just 19 years old. Since then, she's broken her own record over and over again, currently sitting at an astonishing 63.26 meters.

In this episode, Tori talks about:

Her insatiable ambition.
Why she doesn't like team sports.
The first person she calls after a competition.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Whitelock: “That’s the difference between winning and losing”

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Sam Whitelock was the fastest player ever to reach 100 international appearances, the youngest New Zealander to reach 100 tests and one of just 44 men in the world to win a Rugby World Cup more than once.

In this episode, Sam talks about:

How his father deliberately cultivated Sam's rugby intellect
The real reason he's obsessed with body language
The trick he would use to get the most out of Israel Dagg

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cultivating sustainable obsession: The most powerful insights from the first 14 episodes

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 22:30:23 GMT

Pulling key moments from the original conversations, Kaila shares the most powerful insights and themes that have emerged from the first three months of the podcast.

She covers:

The role of obsession in high performance
The essential ingredient that allows a coach to get more from their athletes (and a leader to get more from their team)
What we’re looking for when we strive for big things

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

For the article Kaila references, 'It's not your employees — it's you' visit: https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/387680/its-not-your-employees-its-you.html

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christie Jenkins: “I just remember being absolutely crushed”

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Christie Jenkins was number one in Australia and top 10 in the world in not one, not two, but THREE sports: trampolining, CrossFit and beach volleyball.

She is currently the Managing Director of Techstars Sydney, investing in 12 super early-stage startups every year.

In this episode, Christie talks about:

Her obsession with feedback
How we set leaders up to fail in the workplace, and
The worst thing a coach can do.

Subscribe now to get notified as soon as new episodes of Hunger & Heart drop.

If you loved this episode as much as we did and want to get in touch with Christie, connect with her via her website: christiejenkins.com.au.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mea Motu: “My daughter fought for me, so why can’t I fight for her?”

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Mea Motu is a professional boxer, nicknamed “The NightMea”. She's a five-time national champion across four weight classes — the most titles held by any female Kiwi boxer. In 2023, she captured the IBO World Super Bantamweight crown, defending it twice. This past January, she challenged Unified Champion Ellie Scotney in the UK in an historic bout for four major belts. She recorded her first professional loss but earned global respect for her courage and tenacity. Mea is also a mother of five, a survivor of domestic violence, and an ambassador for the mental health charity ‘I Am Hope’.

In this episode, Mea talks about:

Her Māori identity
How she was able to reclaim herself in the wake of an abusive relationship
The connection between boxing and love

Subscribe now to get notified as soon as new episodes of Hunger & Heart drop.

WHERE TO GET HELP

If you are experiencing family violence, please know you are seen, you are loved, and you are worthy to reach out and get help. Visit areyouok.org.nz or call 0800 456 450.

A huge thanks to Celebrity Speakers for supporting this episode. If you want to book Mea for a keynote and leave your audience buzzing, visit celebrityspeakers.co.nz

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam Nicholls: “Is being an elite athlete good for you? Probably not.”

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Adam Nicholls is a professor at the University of Hull. He researches the factors that predict doping among adolescent athletes, as well as how athletes cope and manage their emotions. His research has been funded by organisations including the International Olympic Committee and The World Anti-Doping Agency. He also won the silver medal in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at the 2021 British Open..

In this episode, Adam talks about:

The 4 types of achievement goals
The 3 basic psychological needs
The 2 types of motivational climate

Subscribe now to get notified as soon as new episodes of Hunger & Heart drop.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Norm Maxwell: “If I didn't perform… I'm gone.”

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Norm Maxwell, Crusader #21, is not your ordinary rugby player. At 1.98m tall but weighing just 90kg, the lock quickly gained a reputation for being an extremely physical player. Having struggled physically and mentally with the demands of early professional rugby, Norm now works to add wellbeing back into performance. Norm is a former All Black and was the fourth ever inductee to the Crusaders Hall of Fame.

In this episode, Norm talks about:

What sport can mean for people who feel broken
Why he felt let down by professional rugby
How he defines wellbeing and what it means to live a meaningful life

Subscribe now to get notified as soon as new episodes of Hunger & Heart drop.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Graham Henry: “A recipe for disaster”

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Sir Graham “Ted” Henry led the All Blacks to win the 2011 Rugby World Cup and was named IRB Coach of the Year a record five times. He was also responsible for New Zealand’s worst ever performance at a Rugby World Cup.

In this episode, Ted talks about:

The coaching loss that is etched in his brain
The relationship between invincibility and disaster
How to build a culture of being the best in the world
The All Blacks system that took a player from rookie to world-class in 18 months
The trick he used with the Black Ferns (that he wished he could have tried with the All Blacks)

Subscribe now to get notified as soon as new episodes of Hunger & Heart drop.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shea McAleese: “I'm a bit of a crazy bastard”

Tue, 27 May 2025 05:29:28 GMT

Shea McAleese is a 4x Olympic hockey player, has won silver and bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games, and is the third most capped player in New Zealand history.

In this episode, Shea talks about:

The difference between forward-facing culture and intrinsic culture.
What it looks like to put everything on the line for your team.
How to train for pressure.

Subscribe now to get notified as soon as new episodes of Hunger & Heart drop.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julia George: “The pressure is constant.”

Tue, 20 May 2025 17:00:00 GMT

This week, we talk to Julia George. Julia works in one of the most competitive environments in the world. She is the Director of Partnerships at Red Bull Racing and Red Bull Technology, where she leads a team of over 30 people who manage one of F1’s biggest partnership portfolios.

In this episode, Julia talks about:

Why she doesn’t describe herself as compassionate.
How to thrive in an environment that is all about winning…
…and what you have to sacrifice to do it.

Subscribe now to get notified as soon as new episodes of Hunger & Heart drop.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Kennedy: “Magic in a bottle”

Tue, 13 May 2025 17:00:00 GMT

This week, we talk to Joe Kennedy, the Director of Athletics and Sports Leadership at the Obama Presidential Center. Joe is a lifelong basketball player, coach, and civics leader. He coached in the NBA. He worked directly with President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama on initiatives like the Let's Move Campaign. He launched All Vote No Play — a movement focused on increasing student-athlete voter participation. In other words, he’s kind of a dude.

In this episode, Joe talks about:

What he learned from time with President Obama
His team’s magical run at March Madness
What democracy can learn from sports

Subscribe now to get notified as soon as new episodes of Hunger & Heart drop.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katie Sadleir: “You have two choices: sit and wallow or step up”

Tue, 06 May 2025 17:00:00 GMT

This week, we talk to Katie Sadleir, an absolute titan in global sport. Katie is a former Olympic and Commonwealth Games athlete, was General Manager of Women's Rugby for World Rugby, and is currently Chief Executive of Commonwealth Sport.

In this episode, Katie talks about:

What the most successful coaches have in common
How she took World Rugby’s council from 0% to 40% women in a year
The bombshell career moment that made her say, “You've got to be kidding” (and not in a fun way)

Subscribe now to get notified as soon as new episodes of Hunger & Heart drop.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Wayne Smith: "Death is afraid of them that have the heart of a lion"

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 22:28:14 GMT

This week, we talk to Sir Wayne Smith, a true legend in the world of rugby. Smithy won three Rugby World Cups and, along with Todd Blackadder and Justin Marshall, was one of the first three inductees to the Crusaders Hall of Fame.

In this episode, Smithy talks about:

What he learned from spit.
Why training is better with chaos.
Why Sir Graham Henry refused to ride on the Black Ferns team bus.

Subscribe now to get notified as soon as new episodes of Hunger & Heart drop.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chelsea Lane: Alarming and almost impossible

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 22:14:50 GMT

This week, we talk to Chelsea Lane, a game-changer in high-performance sport. Chelsea was Vice President of Player Performance and Sports Medicine at the Atlanta Hawks and Executive Director for Performance and Sports Medicine at the Golden State Warriors.

In this episode, Chelsea talks about:

Why she thinks her job is to "manipulate people for a living."
How she gets people to do things that are "alarming and almost impossible."
Her view on the intersection of vulnerability and performance. "You can be incredibly human and incredibly fragile AND absolutely crush it on a field or court. And actually, perhaps you need to be all those things to be able to do that."

Subscribe now to get notified as soon as new episodes of Hunger & Heart drop.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Robb O’Hagan: The leader sets the pace of the pack

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 19:00:00 GMT

This week, we talk to Sarah Robb O'Hagan, renowned business leader and CEO, known for transforming iconic brands like Gatorade and Equinox while inspiring peak performance through her platform, ExtremeYOU.

After experiencing burnout for herself and seeing it in others in her team, Sarah drew inspiration from elite athletes to pioneer a new approach in workplace wellness.

In this episode, Sarah talks about the impact of her own 90-hour work weeks on the rest of the team, how she managed to reduce burnout from 70% to 30% of the workforce within just six months without compromising productivity, and how to manage both the expectations and wellbeing of high performers.

Subscribe now to get notified as soon as new episodes of Hunger & Heart drop!

Hunger & Heart is brought to you by the Crusaders Leadership Programme™. Whether you're coaching under 5s or a professional team, we all want the same thing: to build cultures of trust, get the best out of our people, and grow players into leaders.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bex Smith: More than just football

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 22:20:33 GMT

Our guest today is Rebecca “Bex” Smith. Bex is a former World Cup and Olympic footballer. She managed the women's competition at FIFA and was global executive director of the Women's game for COPA 90. She currently runs her own consultancy on the women's game and female athletes called Crux Sports.

In this episode, we talk about the differences in the women's game and the men's game, what it's like to host the under-17 Women's World Cup in Jordan, and how Bex led changes at FIFA that’ll impact football forever.

We also talk about how football is so much more than football.

Subscribe now to get notified as soon as new episodes of Hunger & Heart drop!

Hunger & Heart is brought to you by the Crusaders Leadership Programme™. Whether you're coaching under fives or a professional team, we all want the same thing to build cultures of trust, to get the best out of our people, and to grow players into leaders.

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir John Kirwan: Balance is bullsh*t

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 00:42:13 GMT

Our guest today is Sir John James Patrick Kirwan, aka JK. He is renowned as a mental health advocate, former rugby union and rugby league player, and former rugby union coach.

JK was part of the New Zealand All Blacks team that won the first Rugby World Cup in 1987. He's also written two books, "All Blacks Don't Cry" and "Stand by Me".

We talk about the myth of balance. You'll find out why he believes balance is bullshit.

We talk about whether the same mental health principles that he teaches to corporate managers also apply if you're an All Black trying to win the World Cup.

We talk about the concept of performance care and why he believes you cannot be successful without it.

Subscribe now to get notified as soon as new episodes of Hunger & Heart drop!

The Crusaders Leadership Programme™ lets you get up close and personal with some of the greatest rugby legends of all time — people like Sir Wayne Smith, Sam Whitelock, and Kieran Read. You’ll get their secrets for building high-trust, high-performing teams, on the rugby pitch or in the boardroom.

Hunger & Heart listeners get 10% off the full price of the program. Use the code HUNGER at checkout. Find out more: crusadersleadership.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hunger & Heart launches 2 April

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 21:11:18 GMT

It’s official: Season one of Hunger & Heart launches Wednesday 2 April.

The podcast features raw, powerful conversations between Boma CEO Kaila Colbin and extraordinary leaders who have pushed boundaries in often uncomfortable ways:

Sir John Kirwan – Mental health champion and All Blacks legend
Rebecca "Bex" Smith – Former Olympic and World Cup footballer
Sarah Robb O’Hagan – Former Global President of Gatorade
Chelsea Lane – First female High Performance Director at the NBA
Sir Wayne Smith – Legendary All Blacks and Black Ferns coach
Katie Sadleir – CEO of Commonwealth Sport
Joe Kennedy – Director of Athletics & Sports Leadership at the Obama Presidential Center
Julia George – Partnerships Director, part of the team behind four-time F1 World Champion Max Verstappen
Jennifer Langton – Former SVP of Health & Innovation at the NFL

Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing Hunger & Heart with Kaila Colbin

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 01:51:40 GMT

Introducing Hunger & Heart, a podcast about the intersection of wild ambition and fierce compassion, hosted by entrepreneur Kaila Colbin.

Kaila tackles the myth that you can either empathise or get the job done, but not both. She talks to people who have managed to perform at the absolute highest level while still holding tightly to their values — specifically, sportspeople — revealing insights that apply not only to sports but to the world of work and beyond.

First episode drops early 2025. Follow to get notified as soon as it's live.

Kaila Colbin is founder and CEO of Boma, an organisation building a world of intentional, intelligent, courageous leaders. Boma is the creator of the Crusaders Leadership Programme™, bringing insights from five of the greatest rugby legends of all time to leaders globally.

An award-winning leader renowned for impact, Kaila works with teams and organisations to build cultural alignment, cultivate honesty, and adapt to a rapidly changing world.

As an international keynote speaker, she has shared the stage with the likes of Bear Grylls, General Stanley McChrystal, astronaut Chris Hadfield, and Swati Mandela. Her powerful, up-to-the-minute insights and world-class delivery make her a standout favourite with any audience.

She developed TEDxChristchurch into New Zealand’s flagship TEDx event and brought Singularity University to New Zealand and Australia, supporting thousands of people to engage with exponentially accelerating technologies and their impact on humanity. Her work to champion Aotearoa New Zealand on a global stage saw her given the 2022 Kea World Class New Zealanders Friend of New Zealand award.

As a founder of the non-profit Ministry of Awesome, Kaila played a critical role in developing Christchurch’s startup ecosystem. She has extensive governance experience, and has been involved with mergers, capital raises, and company sales in the US and NZ. She trained with Brené Brown and Al Gore, and is a chartered member of the Institute of Directors and a certified Project Management Professional.

A native New Yorker, Kaila speaks English, Spanish, French and Italian. She holds a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration from Cornell University. Her purpose in life is to be an uplifting presence.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.