The Mountain Club Podcast
Episodes
Adventures in Nature, Tech and Wellbeing with Founder of Aro Hā Retreats Damian Chaparro
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A thoughtful conversation on health, performance, and finding clarity in a fast-moving world. Damian Chaparro, founder of Aro Hā, an award winning we...
What Success Means Now: Nadia Lim’s Evolution as TV Chef, Entrepreneur, and Mother
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, host Clare Irons sits down with Nadia Lim; TV Chef, Entrepreneur, and beloved New Zealand food personality. Together, they dive into ...
Why Queenstown Attracts Founders: Entrepreneurship, Adventure, and Ali Meredith’s Story
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, host Paddy sits down with Ali Meredith, one of the club’s longstanding and most dynamic members. Together, they explore Ali’s uni...
Building the Future: Innovative Infrastructure in Queenstown with Ross Copland
20 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, host Paddy sits down with Ross Copland - an engineer, infrastructure leader, and passionate local - to explore the unique challenges ...
Cities, Neighbours and Creating Connected Spaces with Sam Stubbs Founder of Simplicity
06 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Paddy sits down with Sam Stubbs, the founder of Simplicity, for an insightful conversation about creating connection, community, and ...
Milestones, Memories, and Community: Mountain Club’s Journey Through 2025
23 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special "Christmas Wrap" episode, host Clare looks back on an incredible year of connection, growth, and adventure in the Queenstown Lakes reg...
From Trail Running to Economic Strategy: Economist Benje Patterson on Queenstown’s Future
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, host Clare Irons sits down with Benje Patterson - economist, strategist, storyteller, and local community leader - to unravel the fas...
Lessons in Scaling Back: Matt Chapman on Balance, Burnout, and Reinvention
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is a deep dive into journeys - geographical, entrepreneurial, and personal wellbeing. Paddy sits down with Matt Chapman, a globetrotter t...
Mental Health, Food, and Finding Balance with Author & Nutritionist Claire Turnbull
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this heartfelt episode, Claire Turnbull, founder of Mission Nutrition and Feel Good the Find Wellness Programme, joins our host Clare Irons to talk...
Funny How Things Turn Out - A Live Night of Laughs
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Mountain Club Podcast, we brought together New Zealand’s comedy legends for an honest, hilarious, and inspiring conversation....
Bringing Queenstown to Life: Snow Machine, Community, and Growth with Quentin Nolan
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Mountain Club Podcast, Paddy sat down with Quentin, the visionary behind Snow Machine and Arrival, to talk all things Queenstow...
Cookies, Community & a $1B Vision: Jennifer Belmont on Legacy Giving this Wills Month
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s Wills Month, and we couldn’t think of a better guest than Jennifer Belmont - CEO of the 45South Community Foundation who quite literally brou...
Reimagining Home: Culture & Creativity with Vic Crockford
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Vic Crockford, director of Heft Communications and founder of the Coalition to End Women's Homelessness, shares her journey across se...
Loops & Legacy: Willy on Queenstown’s Trail Future
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What do trails really mean for Queenstown? Spoiler: it’s way bigger than bikes.In this episode of The Mountain Club Podcast, Clare sits down with Ma...
From Queenstown to the World: Alex Worker's Vision for Sustainable Food Innovation
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Alex Worker shares his remarkable journey from a global upbringing to becoming a driving force in New Zealand’s food tech revolutio...
Balancing Hustle & Healing: Krystle O'Neil on Confidence, Flow & Rewiring the Mind
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Mountain Club Podcast, Clare sits down with Krystle O'Neil, founder of Nourish Our Minds, to explore the journey from burnout t...
David Downs on CAR T Therapy, Malaghan Breakthroughs & The Future of NZ Tech & Health
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From a lymphoma diagnosis to becoming one of the first Kiwis to receive life-saving CAR T cell therapy, David Downs’ story is one of grit, hope, and...
Laura Nicol: From Queenstown Roots to Global Tech Impact
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Mountain Club Podcast, we sit down with Laura Nicol — startup operator, community builder, and host of the Calling Operator p...
Trailblazing Tourism: Tech, Touchpoints & Experience with Brad Rowe
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when bold ideas meet big mountains? In this episode, Paddy Kluts sits down with Brad Rowe to explore the evolution of tourism in Queensto...
How to Be Wrong: Rowan Simpson on Startups, Squiggly Paths and Why Wellington Won
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some founders make the news. Others build the future. Rowan Simpson is one of those quietly iconic figures who’s helped shape some of Aotearoa’s m...
Scaling With Soul: John Wikstrom on 30 Years of Magic Memories, Culture and Courage
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to scale a global business without losing your soul? In this powerful episode, Magic Memories founder John Wikstrom reflects on thre...
Rethinking Leadership and Legacy with Cristina Griffith
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Cristina Griffith from Gibbston Valley Winery shares her story of building a life and leadership style rooted in connection, resilien...
Fighting Waste and Feeding a Community with Gary Hough
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, our host Clare Irons chats with Gary Hough, Branch Manager of KiwiHarvest Queenstown & Central Lakes, the food rescue charit...
Passing the Baton of Queenstown's Creative Future with Olivia Egerton
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our host Clare Irons and Olivia discuss the transformative role of arts and culture in Queenstown Lakes. Olivia, in her four year tenure as the Direct...
Building Queenstown’s Future: Innovation, Bikes, and Big Ideas with Rod Drury
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Paddy Kluts talks with Rod Drury, founder of Xero, discussing his post-retirement projects, Queenstown’s growth, and his vision for...
Using Fashion to Fuel the Human Need for Connection with Natalie Newlands
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
New Lands isn't just a fashion brand; it's a vibrant manifesto for empowerment, engagement, and inspired living. Their collections are a means of self...
The Power of Personal Brand with Powrsuit
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Serial entrepreneurs Nat and Kristen co-founded the investment platform Hatch. After a successful acquisition in 2021, the dynamic...
Transforming Data into Growth and the Customer Journey with Dave Hockly
04 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After leaving Wellington for the snow of the Southern Alps, Dave Hockly founded Data Story, a Queenstown based agency born to give marketing managers ...
Building Global Companies, Tech and SaaS with Ricky Sevta
21 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ricky is passionate about building global-minded B2B SaaS companies. As the inaugural CRO at Simpro, he played a key role in its hypergrowth from a li...
Discussing Business, Purpose and Shoes with Kathryn Wilson
06 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kathryn Wilson has established herself as New Zealand's premier footwear designer, growing from a fledgling designer to becoming an influential busine...
Wrapping up the year with with Paddy Kluts and Clare Irons
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this bonus episode, tune in as our hosts discuss our podcast journey so far, the amazing guests we have had and what is in store for next year.
Growing the Future: Clare Irons talks with Girls Who Grow
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode Clare Irons chats with Manuella Pedrosa and Lucy Boniface, winners of the Rising Star category at the recent Wakatipu Community...
Creating Spaces for Conversations that Matter with Ed Cruikshank and Clare Irons
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ed Cruikshank has been creating unique objects for over thirty years. His work covers a wide range of topics and he is known for embedding person...
Can Queenstown become the next Blue Zone? Adam Castricum thinks so
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tune into this episode of the Mountain Club Podcast with Paddy Kluts and Adam Castricum, sports and exercise physician. Adam takes great satisfaction ...
Discussing Personal Style and Purpose with Lou Heller and Clare Irons
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Mountain Club Podcast, Clare and fashion stylist, Lou Heller sit down to discuss rediscovering your personal style, purpose, gr...
Origins Story with Paddy Kluts and Peter Fullerton-Smith
10 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On the first episode of the Mountain Club Podcast, understand how Paddy Kluts and Peter Fullerton-Smith became integral parts of Mountain Club and why...