Chapter 1: What surprising news does Seamus reveal in this episode?
ambassadors is brought to you by the legends at stark and it is a huge thanks to them for sponsoring ambassadors this year yeah stark are doing incredible things for hamilton you might even say changing the face of hamilton they saw there was such a close alignment with the good vibes we were spreading about the city and in the middle of this year we decided to get into bed together they've helped us get into this space which is the epic office and studio we're recording from and we love it here in fact the whole vibe at panama square where we're based is awesome as it is at all of stark's creations
So if you see Matt Stark or Gareth Munro out and about, tell them they're good buggers and tell them we sent you.
They are changing the face of Hamilton and we're excited to partner with them again on Ambassadors in 2026.
And another huge thanks to TAB, who sponsor the Between Two Beers podcast channel. They've been with us for two years now and we couldn't have done it without their support.
Steve and I are also stoked to now be in partnership and dressed by Barkers. Check out their range at barkersonline.co.nz.
Last thing before we get into it, we're on a mission to become New Zealand's most trusted storytellers. If you enjoy the podcast, it would mean the world to us if you subscribed or followed wherever you're watching or listening. It genuinely helps us grow, attract bigger and better guests, and keep bringing you the best conversations we can.
Enjoy.
Welcome to the latest episode of Ambassadors, our show that takes you behind the scenes of the Between Two Beers podcast. How are we doing today, Shay?
I'm awesome. I am awesome. A bit of huge news. I have had a baby. I'm a dad. So not content with buying a house and getting married. I thought I'd complete the trifecta and I have a one week old at home. Bombshell.
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Chapter 2: How did Seamus manage to keep his pregnancy a secret?
I don't know how much detail.
Yeah, your story to tell.
Yeah, who cares? And then we got into it, and I've got to give a shout-out to anesthetist Jack, who gave her an epic epidural, so she didn't feel any pain. But he came in, did the first bit, went out, and then came back in again and then went to me, hey, what do you do for a job? And I was like, oh, I broadcast stuff. He goes, have you got a podcast? And Doc was like, really? Yeah.
Why not have one day of L.A.? So, Jacqueline Ethertis, thanks for your work. We ended up in theatre, which a few births tend to go that way, and that was a pretty hectic situation. Like, there's a lot of activity in that room, assisted delivery, and I felt a little bit like I'm at the head end. I'm not at the business end. I did have a peek at the business end before we went in there.
Yeah, good on you. Yeah, I'm not sure. I'm not sure that was a good decision. A good decision. But yeah, like I use the term just sitting like a cuck a lot on the podcast, but definitely in the theatre, I definitely felt that. And then once he came out and then he was put on doc and I was there as well. I mean, I had my moment, but it's like nobody...
Nobody could care less about me being in the room. It was all about the baby and Doc and making sure she was okay. But yeah, it's all a bit of a whirlwind. And then you know this, you go to the ward and then it's just the three of you. And I was half expecting like a doctor or someone to come in and go, okay, guys, this is what you do from here. And that just doesn't happen.
So it's two in the morning, baby's kind of swaddled in a few towels because we had to change location at the last minute. And yeah, it's just like all of a sudden there's three of you in the darkness going,
now what it's it's yeah it was a pretty hectic adjustment but i'm like but amazing all at the same time like massive overwhelming emotions big highs big lows um but yeah that that definitely that feeling of being in the ward after the baby's born holding him just being like oh okay it's a boy by the way just in case i've seen him i've seen him about six times but just making sure everyone's got it yeah we'll be right back after this short break
I think there's two moments like that. There's one that you described and the other one is when you leave hospital or birth care for the first time and you load them up and you put them in the car and you're like, oh, no one's helping us now?
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Chapter 3: What emotions does Seamus express about becoming a father?
But yeah, you're definitely taking extra care. I realise now I maybe needed to think about my driving a little bit more critically. All right, I've got a list of questions. What's the biggest shift in your identity this week? Oh, I'm basically just a dad now.
Your whole personality.
Yeah, my personality is a dad. People love photos. People love photos of kids, and I'm not a massive photo taker, but my camera reel is basically just photos of him sleeping. I spent way too much time just watching him, looking at him the whole time I've been home. It's been, yeah, a definite...
perspective changer like time time's a weird concept like I've done nothing but it feels like I've done heaps all at the same time you kind of blink and it's 8 o'clock at night and you're like oh shit where'd the whole day go oh man I've been looking forward to this because you can't explain to someone before they have kids what it's like when you've got kids and you kind of let it go to an extent but there'll be times when we'll be talking and be like oh I'm so busy I've got so much on and I'm like
Are you busy? Because you go home and you've got – you can do whatever you want. And now you go home and you're off.
I'll just stay home. It's going to be the opposite. I'll just be at home the whole time. But, yeah, I feel a bit silly sometimes kind of how for granted I've probably taken life –
Yeah, it's very good. All right, what's something you already miss from pre-dead life?
Oh, morning coffee. I've become a stovetop coffee guy now. Like, I mean, you know how big routine. I think everyone laughed at the wedding when we spoke about how Doc and I just love our routines and there's people like looking at us going, that's out the window now. So yeah, mornings of getting up and going and having coffee, writing a daily list, that's probably the thing I've missed the most.
I was desperate to get in this morning to get to cream and write the list and fuck, it takes ages to get ready and get out of the house. So I was late doing that. This is, so good. What have you learned about Doc Brown in the last week? Oh, she's an amazing mum already.
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Chapter 4: What were the challenges Seamus faced during childbirth?
And there was. He's still okay.
Yeah.
What's the dumbest argument you've almost had or have had this week with Doc Brown? Nah, I haven't had an argument. Just do what she says. Yeah, basically. Yeah, basically.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, no, nothing yet. No, nothing yet. What's the most proud you've felt and why? There's been a few. So we recorded an episode with Owen Eastwood that's getting released next year. And, you know, a big part of his work is talking about whakapapa and lineage. And I definitely, in the moments after he was born, both our dads had passed away.
So, you know, I was thinking about that element of, one, how proud my dad would have been. And then I had an opportunity to invite my brother to come down. And... I think when I saw my brother and we had a hug, it was like the first time we'd probably had a real hug since dad had passed away, since dad's funeral. And just the – I don't know.
There was something about welcoming him into my home with my wife, introducing him to his nephew. I knew he was so excited to get down to Hamilton, and there was just something in that moment where it was like – I don't know. I think being a little brother sometimes too, like having the respect of your older brothers was a really nice thing. So that was a pretty amazing moment.
It was a highlight probably of the first week.
Yeah, I came around and saw you a few days ago. And you were, I would say, the happiest I've ever seen you, the proudest. Yeah. Because I hadn't seen your new home either. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So here I am with my home and my wife and my baby. Come in.
Yeah. Yeah, I definitely have had moments this week of that overwhelming gratitude of, like, I think I even said when we brought him in, I said, like, far out. I can't remember what I said exactly. Doc, she's like, that's really cute. I wish I remembered it now. But it was those things. It was like, yeah, like, wife, son, home. It was pretty awesome.
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Chapter 5: How has Seamus's perspective changed since becoming a dad?
I slipped into like mum's language. I was speaking Roviana to him for some reason. It felt like the right moment to do it. So I was, yeah, just saying all those sort of things and Yeah, it was – no, nothing yet. I mean, I've tried. I'd love him to play sport, but, you know, it's that whole – Early days. I'm really getting told, don't force him into anything, none of that stuff.
Yeah. I'm basically at the end. I'd say one of the things that you – The perspective shifter is obviously everything is a perspective shifter. But the way that you see your wife, your partner, just what they've gone through. Oh, man. And the strength and the, yeah, the sort of the character they are.
Which, I mean, you're only a week in and you're going to see it over the next week and month and year. But you certainly, I think, see everything.
your partner in a different light 100% like that's what I said like Doc has been amazing through this whole thing for someone who had I think you had those concerns going into it yeah her adjustment to life as a mum has been the first seven days and like we're under no illusions either that still kind of honeymoon period like it's going to get tougher there's going to be ups and downs and all the rest of it but I think we've got a pretty strong relationship to be able to talk through them and work those bits and pieces out together
It's fucking weird. It's even weird just sitting here, bro, just thinking about the whole situation. Like a week ago, a week ago we're sitting there and he's starting to stir and starting to want to come out and then you blink and he's in your arms and you go, what? How did this happen?
Yeah, for listeners that... Tune into our Accidental Business Owner show. We've sort of been hinting, and even in here a little bit, about your kind of big end to the year. But because they were all secrets, we couldn't really talk about what they were. So in the span of four weeks, you got married, you bought and sold a house, you moved into a house, and you had a baby. Yeah.
And so this was all in November slash December.
Yeah.
And now, I mean, you've come in to record this, but we're basically both taking three weeks off. This is the last thing we're doing. And you have a bit of time to kind of sit back and actually think about what happened in the year. But how do you, in this moment, reflect on the year and the end of the year that you've had?
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Chapter 6: What reflections do the hosts share about their year?
Swaddling? Sammy's laughing. He gets it.
Swaddling. Swaddling. Swaddling.
I gave up on swaddling after baby number three.
Yeah. No, I think swaddling's my thing. I think I can get a burrito. Like him is just a little burrito. But he still finds a way to pop that little hand out. Hands coming out all the time. Swaddling's my thing.
All right, number one, pretty much all the tips to bring on labour are pretty enjoyable. Embrace them. These include eating pineapple, eating curry, baths, and, of course, having a bowl. I guess that's – is that bowl? It's not my list. Is that cricket bowling?
It's a cricket thing, yeah.
I think it's a cricket thing. There is a myth about women getting horny in the third trimester, which is a myth. Yeah, it's a myth.
It's definitely a myth.
Because I had heard that and I was waiting for it.
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Chapter 7: What lessons did Seamus learn about supporting a new mother?
I think it's smarter than my bet. Oh, God. I've gone test cricket, New Zealand versus West Indies. Yeah. And I've put money on the draw at $10.50. Okay. which is a $475 return. Yeah.
But West Indies, like, they were, the first test, they were, you don't think that's a strong? Let's just see how it plays out. It's probably like the other bets that you put on.
When it's $10 or more, that's going to happen one in every 10. Yeah, I know you explain odds to me every time. And we're trying to build a kitty to give away. Yeah. Sometimes, what's called a long shot, what's the weather saying? Because it could be a draw of rains.
Right? I don't know. I didn't do any of that research.
I think we need to have a talk before the bets go in. In the words of a tabby, I had a hunch. Got a hunch. I think we need an intervention. Yeah, I had a hunch.
Thank you again to our friends at the TAB for Between Two Bets, R18, bet responsibly.
Yeah. Right, we're on the home straight now. It has been a really cool end to the year. We got some recognition from Spotify last week. Spotify released their sort of year ending. Wrapped. Spotify wrapped. Spotify wrapped, yeah. And we featured on it. We were the number one podcast in New Zealand, according to Spotify. And we were also the number one episode, which was Simon Barnett.
We were the number one sport podcast and the number one interview. And when Marcus alerted us to it, Marketing Marcus, he's like, hey, bro, the Spotify rap's come out. Have you guys seen it? It's like, no, I haven't seen it. And he sent through all of those. And I was like, holy shit, that is so cool.
We got a lot of love for the video message that we did as well that popped up at the end of your Spotify wrapped, which was a cool addition. Yeah, it was awesome. That's such a cool day to get all the notifications come through about Spotify wrapped. It was awesome. And thank you, everyone, for your support. It was amazing.
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Chapter 8: How do the hosts plan to celebrate their podcast achievements?
Check out the website, betweentobears.co.nz slash studio, and book your spot at the Between Two Beers studio.