Keven Mealamu: The Story Behind the All Black Legend (Re-Release)
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Welcome to Unfiltered with Dave Luteli and today I had the great honour to sit down and have a conversation with all-black legend Kevin Mialamu.
He really goes deep into his journey, starting from Tokoroa, growing up there, coming up to Auckland and becoming an All Black, you know, captaining the All Blacks, playing 132 games for the All Blacks. And I truly mean this. He is the example of a great man, you know, such an amazing role model that I looked up to for so long growing up.
It's not always easy. So just learning about being courageous and asking the question, being open to learning.
And you've got to get so much out of this. He shares a lot of the advice that he was given from coaches, how he got through the tough times, how he got through that loss to France, that tough loss to France in 2007 to come back and win the World Cup.
Like 2015 was like, yeah. And 2011 was like, oh, thank goodness.
Now he's an amazing community-minded man, serving people, serving the community. So be sure to tune in. This is an amazing story. Enjoy. This podcast is made by the amazing team at Fanaticals. They put up with me, so they're pretty epic. Kevi, thank you so much for joining me, brother.
Thank you, Uso. Really grateful for this opportunity. I thought I might just take this opportunity as well just to say thank you for all the work you do for all our people. Some very inspiring stories out there. We're really grateful for your inspiration and for your support and help in that space.
It's amazing. Thank you, brother. It means a lot, bro. I mean, you're a hero to us. You know, I was saying to one of the boys earlier today that you're like, you know, for me and so many of us, you're like the example of just a great man. Like you're it, you know, in every way that you handle yourself on and off the field and everything you do. It's amazing. So it's an honor to have you here, bro.
Thank you, Saul.
You just got your title. Should I be talking? How should I be introducing you? I am a plastic Samoan, so my pronunciation is not the best.
Oh, and for some context as well, it's one of the things that I feel really proud to have received, my matai. And I'm born and raised in New Zealand as well. My fa'asa more isn't where it should be. But yes, I was privileged enough to pick up the matai, my avatele. And so that's very special for me, for my family. But yeah, I feel the same way as well. Like it was really hard for me. Obviously, not being able to speak the language fully. But of all my trips to Samoa, that was definitely my best, my most favourite moment. And I'll do it again in a heartbeat, no matter how uncomfortable it was.
How do you deal with that, bro, that uncomfortableness? Because it's the same with me. I was raised by my Samoan grandparents, but they thought it was a waste to speak Samoan to me. Yes. So I just know the basics. Same with Māori, don't know much te reo at all. So I feel like, I almost feel like I'm not Samoan enough, I'm not Māori enough. How do you deal with that uncomfortableness?
I think what really helped when we talked about not speaking whāsā or understanding whāsā more, speaking Samoan very well, part of the ceremony when you're having the kapa, when you're having the ava, is being able to reply in Samoan. And although I probably only had like 10 words in there, it was probably I spent like nights and nights trying to prepare for that and I just couldn't get it right. Probably because I was thinking about expectation. What do people expect? They probably expect me to be able to speak well and be able to do this really well. But that expectation felt really heavy on me, to be honest. And it wasn't until the night before in the village with our aunties and uncles, they got us to do a little rehearsal.
And it wasn't perfect, but their support behind me. Proud of you. Man, this is awesome. And having my brothers there as well. Man, there's no way of failing this. I just had to give it a go. That's awesome, bro.
Tell us about growing up. you know, your upbringing, childhood, what was that like?
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–6:59
2
How did Keven Mealamu’s Samoan heritage and matai experience shape his identity?
6:59–13:57
3
What was Keven Mealamu’s childhood in Tokoroa like and how did family influence his rugby start?
13:57–31:51
4
When and why did Keven switch positions and how did that change his rugby pathway?
31:51–35:18
5
What practical advice does Keven give young players struggling to break through?
35:18–40:36
6
How did Keven describe his journey to becoming an All Black and the pride of selection?
40:36–40:59
Speakers
2 identifiedMore from Unfiltered with Dave Letele
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