Jess Cerra is a former professional cyclist, chef, entrepreneur, and now VP of Product & Community at SaltStick — but what threads it all together isn’t titles. It’s nourishment.

In this episode, we unpack the “high performance bubble,” what happens when it bursts, and how Jess evolved (not retired) from pro cycling into building purpose-driven community. We talk female fueling, breaking the “smaller is faster” myth, building a gravel race that’s raised over $130,000 in scholarships, and why high performance is powerful — but not balanced. Jess shares what it really takes to nourish yourself long-term, how community carried her through every chapter, and why you’re allowed to feel like a beast.

This one is for the athletes, the evolvers, and anyone learning to perform without losing themselves.

#womeninsport #cyclist #podcast #business #saltstick #nutrition #fuel #tallpoppytalk

Matt Hicks - Filmmaker, DJ, Producer & Creative - joins Tall Poppy Talk to unpack risk, storytelling, and backing yourself before anyone else does.

#podcast

#creative

#producer

#film

#newzealand

“You’re lucky to have the chance to even try. So don’t waste it.”

Welcome James Oliver to Tall Poppy Talk!! CEO and founder of Atlas, what started as a personal need became a fast-scaling, million-dollar business rooted in science, low sugar, clean ingredients, and a founder who literally eats his product every day.

James shares the real picture behind building Atlas, the psychology of starting from zero, driving Uber at 4 a.m., selling bars out of his car, navigating feedback, and why the first stage is always the hardest. From 24-hour races in Iceland to the creative process behind flavour development, James opens up about discipline, resilience, tall poppy syndrome, and the mindset that keeps him pushing past discomfort, in business and in sport.

Take home message: Anyone who ever accomplished anything, had critics.

Listen to the full interview on Spotify, iHeart Radio, or Apple Podcasts.

#motivation #founder #entepreneur #ceo #podcast #iheartradio #confidence #mentalperformance #tallpoppytalk #mentalhealthmatters #quote #newzealand

Kia ora and welcome to this beautiful episode with KATE LAIDLER!!

With a truly make-it-happen mentality, Kate shares with us her journey from those first afterschool acting classes to expanding her creative skills in constant search of growth as an actor, writer, model and more. From moving cities to being firm on. your boundaries in an industry with competitive pressures - Kate has wisdom and insights to help anyone.

We of course discuss Tall Poppy Syndrome and my personal favourite is diving into how even the kiwi-accent indicates some self doubt... listen to find out this and MUCH MORE!

A gift, a pleasure, please enjoy KATE LAIDLER on Tall Poppy Talk.

"It's an unbelievable feeling when a stranger buys your product more than once. It just is." – Kate Assaraf, Founder & CEO of Dip.

Kate is a boundary-pushing founder and CEO of Dip, the waterless beauty brand making high-performance hair care a whole lot more sustainable — and a whole lot more fun.

Kate’s story is equal parts grit, creativity, and Jersey-girl edge. We talk about what it takes to truly disrupt the beauty industry, her collaboration with the band Guster, championing local refill stores, and how she balances being a CEO with being a human.

We also dive into:

💧 Why Dip is built on effectiveness first, eco-second (because you have to want to use it).

🎶 How a rock band got involved in her mission to reduce waste.

🌿 The art of making sustainability irresistible.

💬 Using customer feedback as a growth superpower.

🏆 Fighting idleness, chasing small milestones, and defining high performance on your own terms.

🇺🇸 The Jersey roots and humor that shape her brand’s DNA.

🌺 Her personal run-ins with Tall Poppy Syndrome — and how she handles them.

Kate’s vision is big, bold, and refreshingly real — and if you’ve ever wondered what it takes to run a mission-driven business without losing your spark, you’re going to love this one.

Take home message: High performance is about fighting idleness and achieving small milestones.

Listen to the full interview on Spotify, iHeart Radio, or Apple Podcasts.

#haircare #founder #entepreneur #ceo #podcast #iheartradio #confidence #mentalperformance #tallpoppytalk #mentalhealthmatters #quote #newzealand

"If the camera wasn't there, would you still do something?" - Mitch Lamb, Kiwi whitewater kayaker, adventure athlete, and all-round good mate.

In this episode with my dear mate Mitch, he opens up about his journey from small-town New Zealand to leading programs around the globe with World Class Academy.

We dive into the wild ride that is high-risk sport, the behind-the-scenes of mentoring the next generation of young explorers, and how Tall Poppy Syndrome shows up when you're pushing the edge (both physically and mentally).

This one’s got grit, laughs, and refreshing honesty about the adventure world both on and off the water.

Take home message: Adventure is as much about people as it is about place

Listen to the full interview on Spotify, iHeart Radio, or Apple Podcasts.

#kayak #athlete #whitewater #podcast #iheartradio #confidence #mentalperformance #tallpoppytalk #mentalhealthmatters #quote #newzealand

Kia ora! In this episode of Tall Poppy Talk we dive into the inspiring journey of Jessie Speedy, a passionate competitive distance runner and New Zealand registered dietitian.

Jessie shares her unique blend of elite sports performance and real-world nutrition, offering insights into her private performance nutrition practice, Sustain Speed Nutrition. Discover how Jessie balances her career, athletic pursuits, and personal life, all while maintaining a positive outlook.

Key Highlights:

• Jessie's transition from accounting to nutrition and dietetics.
• The importance of a balanced approach to nutrition and life.
• Overcoming injuries and embracing the ups and downs of athletic life.
• The role of psychology in sports and nutrition.
• Jessie's recent achievements and future goals

"If I wouldn't ask for your advice, why do I care about your opinon?"

Kia ora team, I have missed you. I'm officially back on my weekly episode pursuit and SO hyped about that. Please join me today for a little 1:1 catch up with a three-part-ep starting with 'Growing through it,' then 'Tall Poppy Shoutouts' and finishing off with some AMAs.

Listen to the full interview on Spotify, iHeart Radio, or Apple Podcasts.

#solo #podcast #iheartradio #confidence #mentalperformance #tallpoppytalk #mentalhealthmatters #quote #newzealand