Jono, Ben & Megan - The Podcast - BONUS PODCAST: When I Grow Up Season 2

Episode Date: September 4, 2025

We've got a special guest in our podcast feed today! We're excited to share with you season 2 of When I Grow Up - the podcast from Ben and his daughter Sienna! If you like what you hear, follow the podcast wherever you're listening to this! In the first episode of Season 2, Sienna and her Dad Ben, sit down with one of New Zealand’s greatest athletes, Dame Valerie Adams - someone she hopes to be like! With Olympic gold medals, World Championship titles, and a career that has inspired a nation, Dame Valerie’s story is nothing short of legendary. What makes this conversation so special is Valerie’s honesty about the challenges she faced growing up - from struggling to fit in as a teenager, to finding her purpose through sport, and building resilience through setbacks and injuries. This conversation covers: ● Growing up with very little and feeling out of place as a teen because of her height ● Finding her purpose through sport and the mentors who guided her ● Handling setbacks, the effort it takes, and what it’s like competing on the world stage at the Olympic Games ● The achievements from Olympic Glory, becoming a Dame, having a Barbie doll made in her honour and where she keeps her medals! ● What Dame Valerie would tell her younger self and will she help Ben move rocks at home on the weekend!? This episode is a powerful reminder that no matter where you start, you can achieve extraordinary things - and you don’t need to have it all figured out when you’re young (or at any age). Follow The Podcast on Socials: TikTok: Ben | Sienna | The Hits Instagram: Ben | Sienna | The HitsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey, welcome to the podcast. It's a bit of a special podcast for you today because a new series of the podcast I do with my daughter, Sienna, who's with me right now. It is our podcast, Dad. With I'm with her right now. I'm always on this podcast. It sounds like he's like, oh, she's here with my podcast. She's here with my podcast. No, I'm pretty much the co-host. When I grow up, Siena and. Yeah, I'm the co-host of that podcast. But also the booker, the guest booker as well. A more guest booker, less about being on the podcast. But it's a really rewarding podcast that we get to do. and you get to hear the first episode with Dame Valerie Adams

at just a few moments, which is pretty cool, actually. So cool. And what I really, I love doing this podcast with you, Cina, which is great because you get to learn about these people's lives and these amazing women. But also, it's really interesting how many people didn't have it all figured out as teenagers. Yeah. Dane Valerie Adams, you'll hear.

She got picked on as a kid. She got bullied. She was really embarrassed about her height. She didn't have, you know, she sort of slump her shoulders and didn't want to be sort of picked out, you know, and things. Didn't want to go get certificates at assemblies. And then all of a sudden she found sport and just how that changed and found a purpose in her life and how that just changed her life. So that's a pretty cool thing actually.

You know, someone who you just looked at now and you're like, she's the coolest. Like she's the coolest person, you know, you want to be like. But to know that she's had this sort of rough teenage years kind of gives hope through every teenager. So I guess that's the purpose of the podcast. But you had a couple of questions for Jono and Megan, didn't you? Yeah. Well, I know Dad's greatest achievement is crashing his car into a tree in his own driveway. Oh, I was saying it's you, CNN.

You're his greatest achievement. That was teenage me. It was teenage dad. So what are your guy's biggest achievements? As teenagers. Yeah. What did you achieve? Wow.

I kissed a lot of boys. I don't know if that's the achievement. I was actually a pretty good student. But very promiscuous. I worked hard and I played her. Both you knew, which is again like something we've found. find out in the podcast. Not everyone knows what they want to do when they grow up.

That's the purpose of the podcast while we decided that we'd put it out there. So it was like listening to these inspirational stories. You can go, oh, okay, this is what this person did, this how they got there. But you guys both knew exactly what you wanted to do. I would probably say that would be my greatest achievement as a teenager because all of my friends had no idea what they wanted to do. And I was a very strange kid who was like, radio, come to me. You want to come and see me work at the community radio station? They're like, no things.

We'll stay out here and smoke cigarettes and be cool. but uh no i think not the smoking cigarettes is cool sienna no no yeah all kissing boys you guys are shocking you're like you know what's wrong we're kissing boys someone kissed you someone gave you a chance and not until i was 30 mate okay that's the same this conversation in front of my daughter it's a wholesome podcast you're about to hear well we get every guest on the podcast in season two to write a little message to their teenage selfish oh nice oh like physically write a message as well some people can be as short or as long as you want

did the length of them just depend on how much time they had and if they were in a rush or yeah I mean you'll hear Dave Valerie Adams said embrace all of you because you're worth it that was her message to herself okay oh sweet they don't have to listen to the podcast no it's really worth that but right now

we're on our second book right now should we get John and Megan to do it okay great my my one is along the line of Dame Val's because oh do you don't want me to say it no one you're right now you can say oh you can say it Say it as you're writing it. Would you say kiss 50% less boys? Yeah.

No. What would teenage Megan like to hear? That the thing that makes her most self-conscious is her most admirable feature. Okay. And one of my friends' parents told me that, because I used to get bullied a lot. And it made me really upset. But she was like, the one thing that you don't like about yourself is, like, honestly, one of the things that people will find most beautiful about you.

year older and I was like yeah right you don't know anything but she was right what was it yeah can we like to say what it is or not do what do it's something john I's complimented me before about okay you're like what's your best feature and you said is just in fun of you or behind your back don't tell me what you see by my back so many good features so many good features I used to get bullied a lot for the shape of my eyes right really yeah and it became And the thing that, yeah. Yeah, and everyone's always like, you have such nice eyes.

And I'm like, oh, and everyone says, oh, your children have got your eyes. And I think, God, that's horrendous. But everyone's like, they have such beautiful eyes. I'm like, really? Wow. You're unique, something that's unique, you know, about you. Sometimes there's a teenager you don't appreciate. Yeah, and it's really what will make you stand out.

Okay. And what were they like, hey, nice eyes, lady. How are they bullying you back in the day about your eyes? I don't even want to say because it's actually like a fetish. Oh, really? Yeah. Yeah. What about you?

What would you write to your teenage self? I would write that you don't have to try to blend into groups. You know, it's very hard to play the role of a chameleon as a teenager, isn't it? I mean, very easy, sorry, to play the role as a chameleon because you're trying to act how you think people that you want to be in with would want you to act. We're actually in hindsight. It's a lot easier and a lot more simple in life to just be yourself.

Yeah. Really. And then the people who like you as yourself will gravitate towards you. And then you'll find your people. That's right. That's what I would say. Good advice. It's just a lot easier.

And, yeah, you'll find yourself. It is so much easier. But I understand why people put on a persona or a facade to blend into a group. Yeah. It's natural. It's just human nature, really, isn't it? You got me to do this the other day, and I was along the same lines about, you know, I was like, hey, you're not cool and that's okay.

Well, I would tell Dad to learn how to reverse. Yeah, well, yeah, that's true. Yeah, well, that's true. Yeah. But then you're saying you're not cool. There's a lot of people that would disagree with that. Yeah. But it's like.

your own mind it's just like you don't have to be again it's not try not to be something you're not because you know like as Lucy Blackerson who created you should care about she's one I guess she's like don't kill the part of you that's cringe because that's your best part you know the part that you think is cringy as a teenager is actually your coolest thing

about you yeah it's the most unique feature it's your USP which in marketing and business that's a big thing your unique selling point so that's why we created the podcast and for you right now you get to hear Dame Valerie Adams first episode of when I grow up make sure you subscribe it's not going to be on this channel it'll be on the other channel right yeah enjoy the heads podcast network you're probably

about six or seven years old and your friend was having a zombie party do you remember this oh dad i don't like the story i still get trauma from this you're like i was five or six yeah and you're like we're doing a zombie party we're like fine he told me he i came into school and i said what's your theme for your party he was like oh zombie zombie zombie party and i was like great i'm gonna go so full out i had a zombie dress i got mom and dad to do my makeup full zombie a fine Your hair was frizzy all over the place Yeah, blood it was ripped And we turned up at the party

I remember this No one else was stressed up It wasn't a zombie party at all It was, he told me that And to your credit I was like, I looked to you I was like do you want to go home And you're like

No, it's fine, I'm here now And off you went Even though you did look like The weird kid at the party I forgot about that dad You just reminded me My name is Sienna And this is my dad bed

Hi And when I grow up I want to be A TikTok star Right Or a sports player Hang on, a scientist would be cool. Even a fashion designer.

Actually, maybe an author or own a business. Okay, slow down. Maybe we should talk to some amazing females who inspire you and who you want to be like. Yeah, and we can find out what they did to get what they are. Yes, and let's do it as a TV show. No, Dad, only old people watch TV. Let's do it as a podcast. Okay, yeah, yeah, I guess that works too.

This is When I Grow Up. We were so stoked when Dame Valerie Adams agreed to come on the podcast. But maybe she didn't actually know that you were going to be on it, Dad. Maybe she thought it was just going to be me. Yeah, she's incredible, though, isn't she, Dame Valerie? Yeah, she's one of New Zealand's greatest artist, artists. Athletes. Athletes, sorry.

And she's had so many amazing accomplishments. Yeah, there's so many things that stick out, though. She's the Dame, Olympic Golds, world champion. But I think what was really incredible about this conversation is she talked about how she was someone that struggled as a teenager. And look at all the amazing things that she's achieved. Yeah, it really shows that at my age you don't actually have to have it all figured out. And what's going on doesn't define you as a person.

Yeah, I haven't got things figured out in my age, you know. Yeah, I think that might be a problem. Yeah. Here's our conversation with the incredible Dame Valerie Adams. Hey, Dad, when I grow up, I want to be an athlete like Dame Valerie Adams. Oh, that's pretty cool. And it's awesome that Dave Vell's with us right now. How do you feel, though, when someone says they want to be like you?

How does it make you feel? It's pretty amazing, to be honest. Like, I think growing up, you hear that a lot. When I grow up, I want to be like Superman. When I grew up, I want to be like Durnaloma. Like, all the rest of it. And now people are kind of like growing up wanting to be like you. So it's pretty humbling, to be honest.

Well, you're one of New Zealand's greatest athletes that we've ever had. And yet you'll hear stuck talking to Dad. Sorry about that. Sorry about that. But honestly, you're a huge inspiration to young girls. like me and you've shown that it doesn't matter where you've come from you can make it on the world stage you've competed in five Olympic games won gold medals and countless titles become a dame you're a mum and you still find time to give back to the community we're gonna struggle to get all

this into a podcast especially if you keep interrupting us sorry sorry just kidding just kidding sorry okay i'll be quiet then you take it away let's start at the beginning you've spoken before about growing up in south oakland and how tough life was back then sometimes only having one meal a day. Yeah, I mean, listen, I think where you grew up on and how things were when you're a young, such and define where you end up in life. Growing up in South Auckland, we didn't have a lot of money, but we did have a lot of love. A state child, a benefit child, we only had $40 a week to feed five mouths.

I'm not sure how my mother did it, but she did do it. Obviously, I don't not look malnourished at all, even at my younger age. and that might come down to genetics but yeah it wasn't the easiest upbringing but one that I'm very grateful for and my mum and those who looked after me definitely did their best to give us and provide for us and you were really tall from a young age

wearing size 14 shoes and that's definitely is it size 14? Yes and I'm still size 14 today so my feet grew and I grew and then I stopped growing but I shot up pretty quickly at a very very young age so and like now

I love being taught you know I just embrace who I am physically when I was younger it was a lot difficult you know because I didn't fit the moorin I didn't fit in at school

I was taller than everybody else I was taller than the principal the teachers I'd stick out like a saw thumb at assembly so as you can imagine being teased all the time being called giant big foot Amazon you name it every word under the sun but also like people just

immediately think that you're a bully because you're the bigger than everybody else. And if someone cried around you, it was like, what did you do type of thing? You know, so it wasn't easy, but that's why the sports field for me was a place of comfort. I felt normal. Everybody wanted to be on my team. But I never went to things like school balls. I never, like I wasn't in that crowd, the pretty crowd.

And I didn't do any of that. My sister, on the other hand, like that was her jam because she fitted in. She was the pretty one where I was like the tomboy, the big girl and with the big feet. Well, so it's really interesting because, you know, we've been lucky enough to interview her a couple of times and hang out with you and you're awesome. You're so cool to hang around to be with. But it's so interesting to think of you as a teenager and feeling like you're not part of that crowd

and people don't want to hang with you. It shows probably quite powerful for teenagers to go where you start doesn't necessarily mean that you're going to end up as well, right? No, not at all. And I think being tall as a woman or as a young girl is a lot harder than being a male, right? Because, you know, like things like, oh,

so when people used to ask, you know, is your husband taller than you, it's a boyfriend taller than you? It was a thing where now it actually doesn't matter. her. So now it's just embracing who I am. I have a daughter who is possibly going to, like she's tall. I've got a son. He's also going to be very tall. So I wanted to see mom standing up nice and tall and strong and embracing who she isn't being confident with it. I never grew up with my dad. My dad was the tall one. So there was nobody to relate to as a young child. So it's

not like dad came to school interviews or came to sports days or anything like that. It was just mom. Mom was, you know, bushy hair, Tongan lady. It was very dark skin. So I did have, from a physical point of view, or visual, other kids to see, oh, you're tall because your dad's tall, you know, type of thing. So I'm always with the kids, they see if my kids are told, they're, oh yeah, they're told me,

look at their mom type of thing, you know, and that's just automatically accepted. Where you do see young girl, or parents of young girls who have really tall come up to me and say, oh, you know, my baby girl's really tall, but she doesn't like being tall, or, you know, was there words of encouragement that you can say to her? So I just,

you know, let these young girls, you know, that know that they are beautiful, they are loved, embrace who they are because you can't change it. You can't change it. Being six foot four, this is who I'm going to be for the rest of my life. If you love it, great. If you don't love it, that's not my problem. Sweethears.

Good way of being looking at it. Well, school life was pretty tough for you, but like you said, you found sport. What was it about the shopport that drew you in? Because it's not exactly like a common playground game. Not in South Auckland, that's for sure. No, you know, so growing out south, rugby, volleyball, basketball, that was the jam, right? and netball, and we always, my sister and I played basketball. We played in the regional teams.

We played for counties, Manichau, Auckland, and we're really good at it. Obviously, it runs in the family. Yeah, right. But the fact that athletics was a very individual sport. Shot putting came about during school, Athletic State. Everybody had to do it, and I just won all the throwing events, and the shot and I just fell in love it. It was just love it, first sight type of thing.

And from there, went to County's Manichael champs, broke the record by a couple of meters with no shoes on. And then from then from then on, just kind of found my niche. I kind of found something that resonated with me that kind of, you know, got attracted to me like I got attracted to it. And then what really made it for me

was actually competing for six months, going over to Bidgosh in 1999. You probably wouldn't even thought about it. And competing at the World Championships, world youth championships in 1999 at the age of 14. Then at the age of 15, my mom sadly passed away. But on the 15th of September, the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games happened.

And I was watching the opening ceremony next to her bed on a lazy boy at the South Auckland Hospice. And I thought to myself, oh, one day I'm going to be there. 16th of September at 9 a.m., my mum passed away. So being from South Auckland, from my background, the automatic or what the normal thing would be to do is to carry on in the cycle that we're in, benefit, have a child live off the dole. And that would be your life. but I decided to utilize that experience and to make my mom proud. So I embarked on this journey and it was a very tough journey and nobody had a lot of hope for me but I stuck with it.

I stuck with it and I love the fact that athletics is in the individual sport because I was completely responsible for my performances. In a team event, if you're injured, if somebody else is injured, it doesn't matter. They've got replacements. Everybody wants your spot, right? So the coaches still get paid. The physios are still there. the trip still goes on.

In my situation, if I'm injured, nobody goes anywhere. If there is no competition, there's no results. Nobody gets paid once upon a time. So I love, it's almost like fill my cup and adrenaline rush of being in this environment. It's actually I've just got to go, go, go. And that's why I probably beat my body up so many times, had so many injuries, because I'm always training on edge and wanting to compete at all these competitions because there's so much at stake.

How important do you think it is for young people to find a purpose like that? it's important to find something, a purpose, but something that you love, something that gives back to you. Something about competing on the world stage or competing just makes me feel like I belong. That's where I felt normal. You know, I talk about, you know, feeling normal on the sports bill. That's where I felt normal. I didn't feel normal in the classroom or at a social event or anything like that. You know, why?

Because I hate standing up. I hate standing up with other people or even getting certificates at school assembly. I absolutely hated it. I hate it because I'd stand up with all my peers. And whenever I got up, you can hear that, you know, my God. Oh, she's so tall. So all the kids all yapping away, the teachers, the parents, and I absolutely hated it. And I'd feel so embarrassed and really, like, sweaty and just like, oh, my gosh, dig a hole if I can jump in there.

Athletics was different. I stood up straight, shoulders back. This was my show. And it made me feel powerful, actually, and very confident in that. But as soon as competition finish, is a different story. But with athletics and with performances and success, you do become more confident. because people want to be a part of your life people want to be your friends

and people want to join your circle all of a sudden as opposed to you wanting to fit into theirs so I realise at a very young age pretty quickly that I don't try and fit in to anything be who you are and embrace who you are This is when I grow up Do you remember that time that you thought well this could be what I could do forever?

Was there a moment that you were like I could do this? Yeah, 2001 world. World Youth. So I went back to the World Youth Championships after my mom passed away and I won them. So I was thinking, okay, this could be something for me. And then from there, I qualify for the World Cup for a senior team. And I got my first paycheck. And with my first paycheck, that went directly to paint her headstone. Right. So, you know, my, I always drew inspiration from that. That was my driver. And anything I got, I always promised myself whatever paycheck I got, the first paycheck that would go towards buying a headstone. And it took two and a half

years later, but I eventually got there. And that's when I realized, okay, this could be something that I could be good at and, you know, going to Olympics and stuff like that. And then, to 2000 to having that dream, I was at the Olympic Games in 2004. Jeez.

Wow. There were many people that did believe in you. It started with PE teachers. And then your coach, Kirsten Hellier, who became like a mother figure after your mom passed. What difference do people like that make? I mean, a big difference. You know, people come and go, so for my PE teacher, Mrs. Tungang, she brought me in my

first pair of Nike shoes from her own paycheck. She was a PE teacher who saw something in me. She even took me at a training sometimes because we didn't, we didn't have a car growing up. So, you know, she believed in me and I didn't actually believe in myself or nobody else did, but she saw something, right? So she sacrificed her own finances to be able to buy me a pair of shoes. Now, I didn't wear kids shoes like we went straight to the men section at the Red Bull Sports. And yes, sweetheart, we got them shoes. And I think they must have cost like $149, which is so expensive for me in my eyes i'm like oh my gosh like we don't even get that a week to feed us type of thing you know so um when she did that for me like that that made a big difference for me

and then having kirsten there at a time where it was a massive struggle with me our relationship lasted she was my coach 11 years and then from there on to jean pier my coach again different parts of your life right with the experiences that come through people come and go some people stay forever others come for a short time and do what you got to do and then disappear again so you know i mean I'm very grateful that I've had amazing people come into my life and be a part of this journey because it's, yes, I am in an individual sport, but it takes a team and it takes a big support team to make that happen. I don't know if it's best time to bring this up, but we have some rocks at home that need moving

about 20 metres. Oh, yeah. Just a lot quicker than just me and a wheelbarrow. But anyway, we can talk about this later, that's fine. My son's probably got bigger muscles than you, Ben, but we won't go there. Probably. Yeah, hell too. Six.

Yeah, you're probably wrong. Well, from there, your list of achievements just explodes. Two Olympic golds, a silver, a bronze, three Commonwealth golds, two silvers, four, oh my God, this big list, four-time world champion, world athlete of the year, 17 national titles, unbeaten for eight years across 107 competitions. Is there one achievement that means the most to you? Yeah, probably take her Olympics. And that was only because COVID, there is a mum or two, a struggle to get there was

insane. It was just one of those Olympic games that could never be hopefully will never be repeated because of the circumstances but I think being there as a mum one of the oldest athletes and actually taking on a bunch of really strong woman was quite intense but one that needed a lot of belief and trust in the process to the point where I put my body on the line over and over

again to make this happen. Having experienced what I did with having my son and nearly carking it and all the of it like it was it was quite a traumatic build-up so to speak so to be there win a medal for new zealand as a mum of two was just the most incredible experience of my life where do you keep all the medals like i'm not coming around to rob your house right but you must have like a whole yeah i almost need a whole room if you had them displayed if you had them display now they're in a box oh yeah yeah they used to be in a shoebox under a better better then but now they're in a safe like yeah yeah yeah gotcha so you don't get uh i mean i guess you'd take them to schools and stuff

from time to time, but it's not something that. And then sometimes the kids will come and be like, oh, can I, but basically they just want to play. Like, no big deal. Or some random kids might want to come to the house and be like, where do you keep it? Like, awkwardly. I might have seen someone like for over two, three years, a friend.

And they'll be one day, they'll be, can I see your medals? Awkwardly? I'm like, oh, yeah, sweet. Like, no problem. Then I go yank them out and dust them off and then hand them over. But, you know, when I do have an opportunity to see them, when other people see them, it's like, oh, you know, these are pretty cool. Like, you've done this and this and this, but like anything in life,

you kind of enjoy it in the moment and then move on to the next thing. What's it really like at the Olympic Games? Like is it as magical as it seems on TV? Nah. Not really. Nah, do know really it is. And the reality is for us athletes,

the environment is very high pressure. There's so much noise that you're trying to block out. You know, there's heaps of things going on. You've got to try and like limit, you know, how much you walk and, you know, all the noise around you, you've got to have to try and just focus on what you've got to do. it's pretty intense.

If you think like 15,000 people in one village trying to compete to win those medals, you're eating together, you're sleeping together like, not like sleeping like that, but you're all in the same environment. It's pretty intense. Like I myself, I try my best to keep it calm, but you're on edge the whole time until you finish competing and then you can really relax. So you're pretty much at the cliff top. And then when you finish competing, it's a massive anti-climax where you just shoot right

right down to the ground and you feel like the whole weight is on your shoulders because you've done competing, all this hype is finally done, and then you can really enjoy the environment, the Olympic environment, you know, at the stadium and the village, the activities that are around. But it's not as fun and it's not as glamorous for the athletes as it is for the spectators out there. And then you talk about, you know,

well, you haven't even mentioned about being out in the stadium of 80,000 people and live around the world and all that pressure as well. Yeah, so that's quite intense. So that is really intense. So in Paris was the first time I went as a spectator. And oh, my gosh, was it amazing? Like, I sleep like a baby, you know, woke up and had a leisurely breakfast, you know,

did the work I needed to do with World Athletics. But it was incredible to be on this side of the fence now looking in. And then honestly, every time there's a competition, I go to a major championship now with World Athletics, I really, so I even reminisce about, okay, this is what's going through their mind now. We're three days out. We're two days out. We're one day out. With, you know, two, three hours before a competition, you're already thinking about what they are thinking about what their body is going through,

what their mind is. And Zona, I'm like, actually, I'm good. We don't need to go there again. We're done. 25 years we're good. Yeah. Well, let's talk about the stuff we don't see. The training, the sacrifices, the constant travel.

One story that we thought was really awesome to reflect on was the time you injured your throwing hand and you were told by your coach to pull out of a world championship. But instead, you shoved your hand in ice between throws and with determination you won. Yes. Yes, yes. This is how crazy Valerie can get from time to time. You know, it's interesting what adrenaline can do. And yes, I was told to go home when we're in Cairns at a training camp.

But, you know, I'd done all this work. I'd been through so much. You know, home life wasn't that great at the time in the relationship that I was in. But I was really determined to be there. And it wasn't a physical thing. I was thinking, it's bloody your hand. It was like literally two fingers, right? So they injected it in Cairns with some cortisol, but that didn't work.

And we meant to get to train the day before. And they even told me to pull out of the competition. the coach did the manager at the time I was like nah no I'm not going to do that I'm just going to go and compete

and they're like oh crap like how are we going to do this so I literally just numbed my hand in ice to the track at the warm up track I didn't even actually warm up

or anything and then throughout the competition put my hand in the ice bucket eat after every throw but at the same time whilst that was going that was hurting because it was at a time

we couldn't tape our fingers or anything like that so the rules have changed now so my hand was bare I had a wrist for it but that's about it then that's what, that's what I did. But adrenaline plus the ice really helped me get through that.

But let me tell you something. As soon as a competition finish and I knew I'd won, that adrenaline winning was fantastic, but the fall was painful. I can imagine. The fall was painful, but it didn't matter because I was a gold medalist and I was like, you know, hip-hippe-a-ring and listening to the national anthem after that. But that just goes to show, like, you know, how tough you can be mentally. Also, you know, just persevering in that moment,

but also realizing once this moment is gone, it's gone. So you've got to put your body on the life. line to be able to do what you've got to do because at the same time I'm thinking my team's behind me where's the funding going to come from afterwards for the sport the KPI has been said so all of that is still going on the background whilst try to compete but let me tell you the feeling you get after you finish competing after you've won what do you think that feeling would be as opposed to elation what would it be instead before elation oh like you're coming down from like a roller coaster you were but your sense of relief so you feel relieved that you've won and then

you celebrate. Yeah. Right? So you're relieved at the results, and then you celebrate. It's not celebration in the first instance. It's like, fief. Like I bet it. Yeah, we're fine because of just, you know, the environment that you're in and the expectation.

Yeah. Because, you know, like we love, I love New Zealand with all my heart, but, you know, Torpopi syndrome still exists in this country. And if you do great, fantastic. And if you don't do so great, not so great. So when I won a silver medal in London, you know, I won a silver medal, at first and I put my whole life on the line and we moved to Switzerland to be able to make this happen and I was supposed to win the gold medal because that was the goal and I was in great

shape but you know events happened leading up to and I couldn't control it when I won a silver medal the response from the media and some of the public wasn't that great seven days later they gave me the gold medal because she got done for drugs yeah I was a national hero yeah so as a society what are we telling our kids what are we telling the youth that winning a silver medal, the Olympic Games is a disappointment. Yeah. You know, instead of celebrating every medal, that is won, regardless of how I feel or, you know, like, I guess I, because I was disappointed,

I wasn't celebrating myself, but it should be celebrated regardless by everybody else. Because then what impact is that going to have on the earth? Like, oh, crap, like, if I want a silver medal, they're not going to be happy anyway. Yeah. What even getting to the Olympics is a huge, you know, qualify. Correct, right? But the expectation on a certain level of athletes is already set. So these athletes are supposed to win

These athletes are supposed to get a medal if they're lucky These athletes are supposed to get to the Olympics So there is a different level of expectation for each athlete Right? So if you think about those things And that's why I tell the story about You know, as a society we need to make sure we celebrate every medal Because every sports person that goes out and puts their life on the line And their body's on the line for this country

Is doing it with all their heart and their might And nothing, they hold nothing back And everybody is there to win a gold medal and whoever performs best on the day is going to win. It's like the all-blakes going out. You try and win a game. They win some, they lose some. It's sport.

That's true. This is When I Grow Up. How's your body now as far as, you know, because all the surgeries and the training and stuff, are you making the noise that I make? Like bending down and picking up stuff? Yeah, I mean, eight surgeries are sports related. Two C-sections and everything else in between. It's cranks and cranks and all the rest of it.

But the main thing for me is actually to continue exercising and making sure I stay fit and stay healthy to be able to live life. Now I train for life. Now I train for my mental health. If I don't train, it kind of like screws me up a little bit because, you know, training every day for such a long time, you are used to it. And when some sports people retire, they can either go either way.

Yeah. This way or that way. So, you know, you just have to stay on track with that. But it's definitely helps with my mental health and just helps with just every day, day-to-day life, really. Yeah. Well, what do your kids think of, like, having a mom who's a total shot-put legend? They like mine.

They own care? She's not really impressive by getting, like, a TikTok on the 4-U page or something like that. She's like, oh, yeah, I'm like, I've done other things. Yeah, yeah, that's tough ones. My kids don't actually care. My six-year-old gives people the, or a seven-year-old now, game one. She gives people the eyeballs at the supermarket. They want to take a video.

Why are they taking photos with you, mum? I'm like, let me be great. Let me be great, child. Kids keep your humble way. They definitely keep you humble. Sorry, Dad. Well, you're a great role model, especially for kids like me and for the Pacific community. You've even had a Barbie doll made in your honour and you were appointed a dame.

How did that happen? And what was it like getting that call? Pretty amazing. You know, I never had a Barbie growing up at all. We couldn't afford it. It just wasn't. And, you know, these barbies never looked like us. So it was just something that you weren't attracted to.

And when I got picked to have a Barbie, you know, made of my likeness, I was pretty excited. like she has a booty she has like biceps like that's what i love about it is actually if you see it it definitely looks like me whilst i was competing and it was just pretty incredible that whole process having the bag the wristwraps she even has a shopport so she stands quite proudly at the house and one day i would like to hand it down to kimwana so she can have it right so that was pretty awesome and then be named madame um it was the youngest female polynesian um a community to be able to get this honor bestowed and again an amazing accomplishment very humbled by it but also

in the process and throughout this journey is actually continuing to inspire those in my community around me to see look at this and be like this is possible it is possible to do this it is possible to be there it is possible to do this that and the other like do not limit you know where your future may be by your environment or whoever's around you right so for me it's about continuing to inspire those around me inspire my community to to look further than what's around them

because the world is their oyster, it's huge you know, you just got to go out there and try and grab the opportunities and then it's for others to give them the opportunity. Is there a lot of admin involved after you become a dame? You have to change passports and licences. Yeah, passports being changing, so that's now the government name. I'm sure it's probably the least of your worries.

But that's one of those things like, oh, you've now got to add that to everything. Yeah, yeah, like it's, it is your government name now. So, yeah, and, you know, people get, like, it does give you some perks which is great but you know all in all I think the true meaning behind us

is to live by that and be able to be a good representative for our country yeah and you're giving back too like with Jami's for June helping kids stay warm in the winter can you tell us more about that and why it's close to your heart

oh so close to my heart I'm a state house child with a very cold house you know thin glass windows and wooden wooden frames no insulation None of that, right? So the whole idea

behind Jami's for June is to be able to provide brand new pajamas for our babies who end up in kids' first hospital. Them and their siblings, when they leave home, they get a brand new pair of jammies. And also through the Manna Kids program

that's around the schools out in South Auckland and it's a nurse that's in the schools that go in and basically try and help the kids who have issues in the schools to stop them from going to the hospital, right? So we're trying to eliminate numbers that end up in hospital.

Because hospital right now, is overflowing, like it's, it's, we're at a limit, we're at maximum capacity right now, and we're not even halfway through winter. So I know it's a very small thing to try and keep them warm, but because we cannot, you know, fix those bigger problems at the moment, but we're on a campaign right now to be able to get 20,000 pajamas for our Tamariki out in South Auckland, and we've had great organisations come through and do collections at their job, and it's called Jami's for June, I invite and want people to join my Jami Army.

I've called it and I've been to a few places to pick up some jammies already so this has been really close to my heart knowing what it feels like to live and sleep in a cold house and you know if you think about pajamas for some it could be a cup of coffee with like bloody oat milk or something like $10 jammies

at the warehouse that's how simple it is so if you are able to donate a pair of jammies or go on the Middlemore Foundation website there are ways there that you can help as well that's awesome well your family is amazing too. You help coach your sister Lisa who's a Paralympic gold medalist and world shot put champion and your

brother Stephen Adams is in the NBA one of Dad's favourite sports people. Now Dad, what would you say if I told you that Stephen Adams is actually right outside the store right now? What? What? Really? No, I'm just kidding. Well, I'd be pretty stuck to know it's a game.

I was like, what? You have got, you can't pull things up. Oh, that was really funny. It must be kind of cool, though, to have you, success in your family with Lisa and Stephen, though. Yeah, I mean, listen, it's good. My dad obviously provided the goods for that. But, yeah, no, it's awesome to be able to have siblings

do amazing in their own right. It's not only them. We've got older siblings who play for New Zealand basketball, Rob, and Warren and Ralph. We've got the nieces coming through now doing their thing in the basketball world, so it's incredible. You know, we obviously have a great genetic maker.

But also you yourself, like Stephen is, he seems like himself, you know, over there. he'll turn up, you know, he's not in the flashy clothes, like a lot of NBA players. He's in like a hunting-looking shirt and jandals and things like that. He just seems like himself. Yeah, no, he is himself. He could probably comb his hair or something. Yeah, I mean, if one thing that is true to us, we just basically stay with who you are

and be authentic, you know, through and through, there's no point in pretending to be somebody else because we actually can't play that card for a long time. Yeah, you're right, yeah. We're going to play a quickfire round of this or that. We do it every podcast. Just go with your gut. Okay, yeah. Gold middle or world record.

Oh, gold. Gold, throwing a shot put or throwing shade. Shot. TikTok or Instagram. TikTok. Five Olympic Games or uninterrupted naps. Five Olympics. As a mom, though, the naps are handy, but yeah, okay.

Barbie doll or barbecue. Barbecue. Movies or binge watching a series. Series. Competing in Rio or relaxing in Raro. relaxing your right way Losing all your followers or never posting again Oh

Never posting again Training with elite athletes or training dad to throw a shop Trading your dad Oh really I don't think it'll be any good I'll pull a hemie or something Heavyweight lifting or helping me carry dad through this I'll help you I'll help you So we've got a book here and we're going to get you to write a message

It can be as short or as long as you want We're getting every guest to write a message to their teenage self so what would you say to teenage dame valry embrace all of you because you are worth it oh it's awesome 22 years on the international stage from a kid from New Zealand to Olympic podiums around the world you've proven that it doesn't matter where you come from

if you work hard anything is possible so thank you so much thank you for having me thank you for putting up with me as well yeah exactly that's probably been the hardest thing you've achieved well your daughter's in a really good job you better be careful I'm just like a spectator at the Olympics.

Just watch you go on. I know, thank you so much. We're really honored that you could be part of this. Thank you. Thank you very much. That was so inspiring. I love how honest she is with everything, even the tough stuff. And I also love how you guys just prank me.

We just did a video which you'll see on social media. I came out wearing my dog pajamas. You looked like a lost seven-year-old boy. I did. I looked like I just had a nightmare and I was going to my parents' bedroom. Anyway, you can see that on social media if you want to check out my pajamas as well. But incredible all the things that we covered off in that chat with her. From bullying setbacks to gold medals and being named a dame. Her story is really, really powerful.

And I think, you know, it's really important that no matter what your life feels like right now, it doesn't mean it's always going to be like that. I mean, look at the incredible things that Dave Valerie has achieved. Yeah, I also love how she talked about finding your thing. The one thing that gives you purpose, and for her it was sport, for me probably not shopput. I've still got those rocks around the house if you want to move those. This could be your start. We will, of course, be back next week with another amazing woman to talk to, right, Sienna?

And maybe even more surprise moments where I pretend Stephen Adams is hiding outside the studio. Sorry, Dad. Yeah, thanks for that.