PowerUp Podcast Season Five: Full season now streaming

If you ever wanted to know about the reality of running a small business, particularly in the trades, then episode three of the PowerUp Podcast is a must listen.

Ben and Tess Annabell have seen it all, having run a plumbing business themselves and now as the owners of Recharge, a business advisory firm with a focus on supporting tradies. They talk about their own struggles running a plumbing company, mental health and wellness, burnout, financial education and the toll of running a business. 

In episode four, iconic Taranaki figure Terry Boon talks through some of the highlights of his incredible career.

Terry is the founder of BOON, which last year brought up 50 years at the leading edge of design and architecture. In that time, Terry has had a huge influence in shaping the likes of the Bowl of Brooklands and Govett Brewster Art Gallery, not to mention every McDonalds in NZ and even the New Zealand high commission in Saudi Arabia.Terry talks through some of the highlights of his incredible career.

Andrew Blanche didn’t take the textbook route to becoming a baker, his path wound through hospitality, a stint as a funeral director, and eventually to sourdough stardom with Baked by Blanche. Today, his baked goods are a staple in homes, cafes, and restaurants across the region.

In episode five, Andrew opens up about building community through food, staying true to his values, the importance of supporting local, and finding purpose in making things properly.

Season Five wraps up with Jai Huta, founder of Game Changer, a challenger brand that is at the intersection of sport and social enterprise.

Jai Huta is in the business of supplying high quality sports kit at affordable prices. His business Game Changer is doing exactly that, particularly when it comes to kitting out teams, clubs and schools that don’t have privileged backgrounds.

Jai talks about why it’s important to him, and how Game Changer grew from a hobby to a full time job. He discusses how having good kit makes people feel, the reality of growing a challenger business in a competitive space, and why he likes the flexibility of self-employment.