Photos: Kellie Blizard, The Moment Catchers.
When Steve Holloway and Seamus Marten met as teens at Hamilton Boys’ High School, they never dreamed two decades later that they would be one of the biggest podcasters in New Zealand, sharing their tears and triumphs with the world.
“A few years ago, I was a sports journalist at the Herald,” shares Steve, 40. “Now I’m crying during episodes of podcasts that we release to tens of thousands of people.”
Seamus, 43, adds with a laugh, “I didn’t even know what a podcast was when we started!”
It’s been a whirlwind journey for the proud Hamilton locals, who have been best friends since they met playing football. Almost six years ago, Steve bought a microphone and together with Seamus, the Between Two Beers podcast was born.
Initially, it was about football and they’d interview their friends and local sporting figures, filming episodes in Steve’s garage.
Over time, they branched out to different topics and have now welcomed iconic Kiwis from every walk of life, including Rachel Hunter, Dame Lisa Carrington and Jason Gunn.
Their empathetic interview style captured hearts and Between Two Beers is now New Zealand’s most popular long-form interview show, boasting more than 100,000 monthly listeners.
“We had no anticipation about money or audience – we just loved it,” tells former professional poker player Steve.
“It became the highlight of the week,” Seamus adds. “What motivates me is that everything we do is fun. It doesn’t feel like going to work.”
In those early days in Steve’s garage, the idea for their latest venture, Reflections, began.
As they scrambled to find a guest one week, Steve roped in his dad Bruce, 66, to fill the spot.
“For two hours, I asked him all the questions I had always wanted but never found the time,” recalls Steve. “All those big questions you never normally ask your dad. It helped me understand him more. I learned more about him in that time than I had in the previous 37 years.”
While he’s sure his dad will have many years to create memories, Steve’s glad he’ll be able to enjoy the recordings with his children – Bowie, eight, Teddy, six, Billie, four, and Goldie, one, whom he shares with his wife Bonnie, 36 – when Bruce is gone.
“At the end, I thought, ‘That will be my most valuable possession when he’s not around any more.’”
It sparked an idea and after years of work, Reflections was born. With journalists Suzanne McFadden and Mark Stafford, Steve and Seamus work with a family to research their history. They then sit down for a two-hour interview, creating a private podcast for the family to treasure.
It’s a particularly poignant concept for Seamus, who sadly lost his father Ken in 2010.
In the years before his death, Ken kept journals reflecting on his life, which are now Seamus’ most prized possessions. But he admits he would give anything to hear his father tell his story.
“It was a tough time,” laments former All Whites manager Seamus. “I have an idea in my head of what his voice sounded like, but as time passes, it’s starting to fade. I’d love to have an audio version of his stories read in his voice.
“Me and my family always retell stories and try to imitate his accent the way he would tell stories or his quirky catchphrases.
“What excites us, though, is being able to give that gift to other families.”
Both are keen to capture their mums’ stories, and while Steve’s mum Brenda, 67, is interested, Seamus admits he hesitated to ask his mother Jenny.
“I would find it really hard to ask her some of those bigger questions,” says Seamus. “I think she would find it hard to answer them coming from her son. But I know I need to get out of my own way.”
As they look to the year ahead, they both have big dreams for the podcast and Reflections. But after years of hustling to get their projects off the ground, they want to dedicate this year to nurturing their own private lives.
“I want to maintain positive relationships with those near and dear to me,” says Seamus.
While Steve shares, “I want to date my wife once a week. We have four kids eight and under and it’s really hard to find the time. But this year, I’m making it my priority, even if it’s just a walk around the block together.”
For more about Reflections, visit reflections.life. Listen to Between Two Beers wherever you get your podcasts.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
