In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Carl Meyer!Carl is the founder of BioGold, a New Zealand natural health company creating high quality testosterone support supplements made from pine tree pollen.
Before BioGold, he built and sold Vic Deals, a student community platform with more than 200,000 members, at just 23 years old.
Carl shares his journey from robotics student to multi million dollar business owner, including the periods of severe anxiety and depression that shaped his approach to entrepreneurship.
He tells the story of raising capital while mentally struggling, the lockdown yoga retreat that shifted his life, and why he chose to build BioGold without selling a single share of equity.
Find out more about BioGold here: https://www.biogoldnz.com
Watch all episodes of the Ways to Wealth Podcast here: https://www.eccuity.com/podcasts
#waystowealth #entrepreneurship #bootstrapping #mentalhealth #nzbusiness #wealthbuilding #biogold
In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Jahred Dell!
Jahred is one of New Zealand’s top jiu-jitsu competitors and a black belt under Pedro Fernandes at Tukaha. But beyond the medals and mats, his story is one of discipline, humility, and transformation. From growing up in South Africa and finding purpose through martial arts, to balancing teaching with elite-level competition, Jahred shares how jiu-jitsu became the defining force that reshaped his life.
Charlie and Jahred explore what makes a great gym culture, how community and mentorship build resilience, and the balance between self-competition and external validation. They also discuss burnout, overtraining, and the mindset required to perform at a high level — whether in sport, business, or life.
This episode is a raw, reflective look into what it takes to pursue mastery over decades — and the importance of staying grounded, curious, and connected along the way.
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:06 Jared
02:08 Origins
07:21 Gyms
18:53 P.E.Ds
24:18 Accusations
26:27 Progression
38:56 Impact
42:47 Outro
In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Yaela Raber!
Yaela’s journey is one of radical honesty, courage, and reinvention. Originally from Amsterdam, she built a multi-million-dollar marketing agency across five countries before realising that success — as the world defined it — left her completely disconnected from herself. After selling the business and walking away from everything she’d built, she began a new mission: to help women redefine what it means to be powerful, successful, and fulfilled on their own terms.
Now based in New Zealand, Yaela is the founder of The Powerhouse Alliance and host of The Powerhouse Diaries Podcast, an ecosystem dedicated to helping female founders tear up the rulebook, rebuild from authenticity, and lead with connection instead of competition.
Charlie and Yaela explore the dangers of resilience culture, the myth of balance, and how chasing constant growth can disconnect us from our purpose. They unpack how to tune out the noise, build discernment, and embrace both “flow” and “hustle” in business and life — a concept Yaela calls Flussle.
This conversation is a reminder that rebellion isn’t about chaos — it’s about returning to connection, courage, and clarity in a world that celebrates burnout.
Check out The Powerhouse Alliance here: www.powerhouse-alliance.com
Check out eccuity here: www.eccuity.com
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:10 Yaela
02:42 Female Founders
06:27 The Rebellion
11:22 Success
13:28 Start-up Help
21:04 Noise
39:01 How to adapt
53:37 Running your own race
55:35 Outro
#WaysToWealth #YaelaRaber #FemaleFounders #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #Mindset #Reinvention #WealthBuilding #NZBusiness
In this episode of Macro Mondays, Charlie and Dave MacLeish dive into a busy week of global market moves and central bank decisions. They unpack Australia’s upcoming rate call on Melbourne Cup day, rising inflation pressures across the US and New Zealand, and how governments are walking a fine line between cutting rates and keeping prices stable. The pair also analyse Big Tech earnings, AI’s growing role in productivity, and Elon Musk’s bold claim that apps will disappear within five years. They finish by exploring whether governments could one day use crypto to strengthen — not weaken — their control of money.
#macromondays #markets #inflation #investing #ai #bigtech #usd #finance
In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Matthew Jackson!
Matthew’s story is one of reinvention, courage, and conviction. From creating one of New Zealand’s first streaming platforms that challenged the global media industry, to founding a telehealth start-up that brought doctors into people’s homes, Matthew has spent over a decade building products that challenge the status quo.
Now, as co-founder of Alimentary, he’s tackling one of the world’s biggest problems — waste. Inspired by the biology of a cow’s stomach, his team is developing bioenergy systems that turn organic waste into clean power, fertiliser, and profit. Backed by the largest innovation grant in New Zealand’s environmental history, they’re proving that sustainability and scalability can go hand in hand.
Charlie and Matthew dive into how courage fuels entrepreneurship, what it takes to build deep tech in New Zealand, and how to design a business model that captures both economic and environmental value.
They also explore new ways of raising capital, the changing venture landscape, and what it means to lead with values at the core of innovation.
Learn more about Alimentary here: alimentary.systems
Learn more about eccuity here: eccuity.com
Timestamps:
#WaysToWealth #MatthewJackson #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #Sustainability #ClimateTech #WealthBuilding #NZBusiness
In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Sanjeev Jangra!
Sanjeev’s story is one of grit, risk, and reinvention. From working night shifts at a gas station to becoming one of New Zealand’s top mortgage advisors, Sanjeev shares how he left the safety of a corporate banking job to build his own business during a pandemic, with no network and no clients.
He talks about the strategies that helped him scale from a one-man operation to a team of six, his approach to growth in good and bad markets, and why focusing on service over sales created exponential results.
Charlie and Sanjeev also dive into the broader economic trends shaping New Zealand’s property and currency markets, and how everyday investors can think differently about building wealth.
Check out Loan Market here: loanmarket.co.nz
Check out eccuity here: eccuity.com
#WaysToWealth #SanjeevJangra #FinancialFreedom #NZBusiness #WealthBuilding #Entrepreneurship
In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Vanesha Naidu!
Vanesha is the founder of Role Call Recruitment and the tech start-up Birdeey, where she’s reshaping how companies hire and scale their teams. She shares her journey from 18 years in recruitment to building a global product from New Zealand, tackling the deeper issues behind hiring inefficiencies.
Together, Charlie and Vanesha unpack the challenges of scaling a services business, bootstrapping tech without venture capital, and how today’s founders can balance income, equity, and sustainability in a changing economy.
Check out Role Call Recruitment here: rolecall.co.nz
Check out Birdeey here: birdeey.com
Check out every episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast here: eccuity.com/podcasts
#WaysToWealth #VaneshaNaidu #Recruitment #StartUps #Entrepreneurship #Hiring #NZBusiness #Bootstrapping #WomenInBusiness #Innovation #TechFounders #FoundersJourney
In this episode of Macro Mondays, Charlie breaks down the week’s major market moves — from surging gold prices and a stubbornly strong US dollar to Bitcoin’s fading momentum. He also unpacks the strange “circular revenue” dynamic between OpenAI, Nvidia, and Oracle, where investment and chip purchases are looping back on themselves. With gold hype hitting Main Street and risk assets acting oddly, Charlie questions whether speculation is overtaking fundamentals and what it means for investors watching the next big unwind.
#macromondays #markets #investing #usd #gold #bitcoin #openai #nvidia #finance
In this episode of Macro Mondays, Charlie is joined by Dave MacLeish, founder of Wedge, to unpack one of the most dramatic weeks in markets this year. From a $19 billion crypto liquidation to a sharp rally in bonds and a weaker Kiwi dollar, they explore what’s driving volatility, how leverage is reshaping risk, and why “buy the dip” might not work forever. The conversation covers rate cuts, private credit stress, Trump’s latest market influence, and what these shifts could signal for a potential recession ahead.#markets #macromondays #investing #finance #crypto #usd #nz #economy
In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Anthony Sage!
Together they unpack the latest shifts in monetary policy, interest rates and the ripple effects of the US Fed’s unexpected rate cut.
Anthony shares his perspective on how New Zealand’s housing-driven economy compares to the more dynamic US market, and why falling mortgage rates might not mean what most think. The pair also explore how immigration, private credit, and global money flows are shaping what could be a decade-long economic realignment.
Check out eccuity here: https://www.eccuity.com
Learn more about Advice Knight here: https://www.adviceknight.co.nz
#WaysToWealth #AnthonySage #Finance #Economy #Investing #NZFinance #KiwiInvestors #InterestRates #USMarkets #RBNZ #FederalReserve #Property #Wealth
Expert guidance to help you grow, adapt, and plan for what’s next. Try it for free⤵️www.eccuity.com/privateIn this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Dave McLeish, founder of Wedge!Dave shares his journey through the world of fixed income and investments, reflecting on lessons from the 2008 financial crisis and the misconceptions many investors have about bonds. Together, they explore the importance of trust, transparency, and financial literacy in shaping better outcomes for savers.Wedge is on a mission to deliver better savings rates than traditional banks in New Zealand. This conversation highlights why financial innovation matters, the role of active management in fixed income, and how small steps in financial literacy can empower consumers to make smarter choices.Check out Wedge here: www.wedge.co.nzCheck out all of the episodes of the Ways to Wealth Podcast here: www.eccuity.com/podcasts#WaysToWealth #DaveMcLeish #Wedge #FixedIncome #Investing #FinancialServices #FinancialInnovation #Savings #FinancialLiteracy #Trust #transparency
Expert guidance to help you grow, adapt, and plan for what’s next. Try it for free⤵️
https://www.eccuity.com/private
In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Liam van den Berk!
Liam is a self-taught cinematographer and director working with agencies and production companies across a wide range of projects. His skills span filming, editing, directing, color grading, and drone operation. Recently, he has been involved with major productions like Minecraft: The Movie, working behind the scenes alongside Jack Black and Jason Momoa. Beyond film, he is passionate about health, fitness, and is currently writing his own feature film.
The conversation unpacks Liam’s unconventional journey, from leaving school at 16 to work as a plumber, to discovering filmmaking through taking photos on construction sites. His first big break came filming for Spades from a hot air balloon, which set him on the path to a thriving freelance career.
Topics include the realities of freelancer life, the importance of networking and building trust on set, and how to manage finances without the safety net of traditional employment. Charlie and Liam also discuss travel experiences, government policy, and the role of discomfort and new environments in driving creativity and personal growth.
Watch all episodes of the Ways to Wealth Podcast here: www.eccuity.com/podcasts
#WaysToWealth #Filmmaking #Cinematography #FreelanceLife #CreativeCareer #Networking #Storytelling #CareerGrowth #Innovation
Expert guidance to help you grow, adapt, and plan for what’s next. Try it for free⤵️
https://www.eccuity.com/private
In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Steven Kempton!
Steven is a recruitment executive with an international career spanning Silicon Valley, Japan, and New Zealand. He has worked with major tech companies like Apple, Taiwan Semiconductor, and Huawei, and even placed candidates who interviewed directly with Steve Jobs. After time in Japan teaching English and starting a family, he returned to New Zealand where he launched his own recruitment company while raising two young sons.
The conversation explores Steven’s holistic view of wealth, which he defines as the freedom to control your time and foster meaningful relationships, rather than simply accumulating money. He reflects on his rural upbringing in 1970s–80s New Zealand, where he saw his parents run multiple businesses, including a seven-day-a-week fruit and vegetable store.
Key themes include how New Zealand’s economy has shifted since the 1980s, the rise of instant feedback loops in modern life, generational differences in how people access information, and the importance of families having open conversations about money. Steven also shares lessons from a personal health scare that reshaped his perspective on success, leading him to prioritize health, balance, and family experiences alongside professional achievement.
Watch all episodes of the Ways to Wealth Podcast here: www.eccuity.com/podcasts
#WaysToWealth #WealthMindset #LifeBalance #Recruitment #CareerGrowth #FamilyWealth #Leadership
Expert guidance to help you grow, adapt, and plan for what’s next. Try it for free⤵️
https://www.eccuity.com/private
In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Chris Parnell!
Chris is the co-founder of SetSeed, a platform designed to create smarter websites without the heavy reliance on plugins. His entrepreneurial journey began in marketing, moved through graphic design training, and eventually into self-taught web development. After seeing a product from a previous company go global, Chris was inspired to build his own venture, teaming up with UK-based partner Ben Vallack to launch SetSeed.
The discussion covers the challenges small and medium businesses face with plugin-heavy platforms like WordPress, where security, maintenance, and complexity can become serious pain points. SetSeed’s plugin-free model offers an alternative with built-in functionality designed for simplicity and reliability.
Chris and Charlie dive into the realities of bootstrapping versus pursuing venture capital, exploring how founders can maintain control while still taking advantage of growth opportunities. They reflect on the trade-offs between ambition and family balance, and how recent VC interest has created both potential opportunities and distractions for SetSeed.
The episode also looks at strategic advice for businesses considering platform migrations, stressing the importance of long-term planning over reactive decision-making, especially in a market increasingly influenced by AI-driven hype.
Find out more about SetSeed here: www.setseed.com
Watch all episodes of the Ways to Wealth Podcast here: www.eccuity.com/podcasts
#WaysToWealth #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #WebDevelopment #Innovation #SmallBusiness #Leadership
Expert guidance to help you grow, adapt, and plan for what’s next. Try it for free⤵️
https://www.eccuity.com/private
In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Brent Coleman!
Brent runs a fast-growing YouTube channel dedicated to educating New Zealanders about personal finance, covering saving, investing, and money management. With a finance degree and international experience, including two years at a Singapore-based family office, Brent brings both practical and global perspectives to his content.
The conversation explores Brent’s content creation strategy, where he shares how he develops video ideas, scripts, and edits — spending roughly an hour per minute of final content while keeping a pipeline of 10+ ideas. They also dive into economic analysis, discussing issues with New Zealand’s CPI data, the Reserve Bank’s interest rate decisions, and new tools like Truflation for real-time inflation tracking.
Brent explains his investment philosophy, built around a conservative index fund approach with an 80/20 core-satellite strategy balancing stable long-term holdings with smaller speculative plays. He also gives behind-the-scenes insights into life inside a Southeast Asian billionaire’s family office, from 80-hour weeks to exclusive private investment opportunities, highlighting the reality versus perception of ultra-wealth management.
The discussion expands into cryptocurrency, where Brent and Charlie examine Bitcoin’s institutional adoption, transaction costs, and the practical challenges of secure storage.
This episode shows how deep finance expertise can translate into engaging education, while underscoring the importance of discipline and balance in building wealth.
Find out more about UDC Finance Limited here: www.udc.co.nz
Watch all episodes of the Ways to Wealth Podcast here: www.eccuity.com/podcasts
#PersonalFinance #Investing #WealthBuilding #MoneyManagement #FinancialEducation #IndexFunds #EconomicInsights #CryptoInvesting #FamilyOffice #WaysToWealth
Expert guidance to help you grow, adapt, and plan for what’s next. Try it for free⤵️
https://www.eccuity.com/private
In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Vinay Deobhakta!
Vinay is a former lawyer turned entrepreneur whose career collapsed after a Law Society complaint saw him struck off the legal roll in 2009. Coming from a prestigious legal family, he practiced law for 20 years before facing bankruptcy and personal ruin.
The conversation explores Vinay’s remarkable journey of resilience, from selling possessions at markets to working in high-end sales of Ferraris and Lamborghinis, and eventually rebuilding through Mackenzie Friend Professionals – a business supporting self-represented litigants in Australia and New Zealand.
Key themes include the principle of “ego edging God out” that contributed to his downfall, his spiritual recovery through Bible study, and the psychology of overcoming depression and financial hardship. Vinay also shares his perspective on AI’s disruption of the legal profession and his transition into mental health advocacy through his podcast A Fighter’s Mind, focused on litigation trauma and resilience.
The episode highlights grit, recovery, and practical strategies for bouncing back stronger after failure.
Find out more about McKenzie Friend Professionals Limited here: www.mckenziefriendprofessionals.com
Watch all episodes of the Ways to Wealth Podcast here: www.eccuity.com/podcasts
Expert guidance to help you grow, adapt, and plan for what’s next. Try it for free⤵️
https://www.eccuity.com/private
In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Tom Hern!
Tom Hern is a New Zealand film and television producer, writer, and director who began his career as a junior TV reporter at just 13. After leaving school at 15, he moved from acting into producing and went on to found Four Nights Film in 2010. He has since produced major projects including The Dark Horse and the TV series Madam starring Rachel Griffiths and Martin Henderson.
The conversation explores Tom’s entrepreneurial journey in the screen industry, comparing film production to property development and start-up models. They discuss the unique challenges of independent filmmaking in New Zealand, international financing strategies, and the balance between creative integrity and commercial realities.
Key themes include the importance of personal brand as a storyteller, the role of data versus human curation, the industry’s shift toward AI, and why name actors remain pivotal for financing. Tom also unpacks counterculture storytelling, negotiation strategies, and the goodwill factor in deal-making.
He shares insights on his upcoming projects, including a skateboarding film with Tony Hawk and Steve-O as executive producers, and offers advice for aspiring filmmakers on blending timeless storytelling craft with modern technology.
Find out about Tom’s company TAVAKE here: www.tavake.tv
Watch all episodes of the Ways to Wealth Podcast here: www.eccuity.com/podcasts
Expert guidance to help you grow, adapt, and plan for what’s next. Try it for free⤵️https://www.eccuity.com/private
In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Tom Hern!
Tom Hern is a New Zealand film and television producer, writer, and director who began his career as a junior TV reporter at just 13.
After leaving school at 15, he moved from acting into producing and went on to found Four Nights Film in 2010. He has since produced major projects including The Dark Horse and the TV series Madam starring Rachel Griffiths and Martin Henderson.
The conversation explores Tom’s entrepreneurial journey in the screen industry, comparing film production to property development and start-up models.
They discuss the unique challenges of independent filmmaking in New Zealand, international financing strategies, and the balance between creative integrity and commercial realities.
Key themes include the importance of personal brand as a storyteller, the role of data versus human curation, the industry’s shift toward AI, and why name actors remain pivotal for financing.
Tom also unpacks counterculture storytelling, negotiation strategies, and the goodwill factor in deal-making.He shares insights on his upcoming projects, including a skateboarding film with Tony Hawk and Steve-O as executive producers, and offers advice for aspiring filmmakers on blending timeless storytelling craft with modern technology.
Find out about Tom’s company TAVAKE here: www.tavake.tv
Watch all episodes of the Ways to Wealth Podcast here: www.eccuity.com/podcasts
Expert guidance to help you grow, adapt, and plan for what’s next. Try it for free⤵️
https://www.eccuity.com/private
In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Jamie McKenzie!
Jamie McKenzie is a UK-born video production business owner and creative director who has been operating in New Zealand for 22 years. After training in London and working on TV shows and documentaries, he moved to Auckland and founded his production company, targeting the early gap in business video content when the market was still dominated by VHS tapes and CD-ROMs.
The conversation explores the shift from polished corporate videos to today’s demand for authentic, story-driven content. Key themes include how trust and audience expectations have changed, the evolution of influencer marketing, and the growing importance of long-form video as brands look to build owned audiences rather than relying on social platforms.
They also discuss AI’s role in creative industries, exploring whether it acts as a replacement or a productivity multiplier, and Jamie shares insights into entrepreneurship, adapting to industry disruption, and how businesses can approach video content with clarity and purpose.
Check out PURE Video Content Agency here: www.pureproductions.co.nz
Watch all episodes of the Ways to Wealth Podcast here: www.eccuity.com/podcasts
Expert guidance to help you grow, adapt, and plan for what’s next. Try it for free⤵️
https://www.eccuity.com/private
In this episode of the Ways to Wealth Podcast, Charlie is joined by Murphy O’Neill!
Murphy O’Neill is the director of Adaptable Structures in Auckland, where he is developing what he claims is the world’s first “design for industrialization” construction system. With roots in his family’s construction business, he has spent the last 10 years self-funding this venture after being inspired by the urgent housing needs following the Christchurch earthquakes.
The conversation explores O’Neill’s modular housing system, which uses recyclable aluminum instead of timber, designed to be mass-produced sustainably within a circular economy framework. He critiques New Zealand’s innovation ecosystem, arguing that exporting intellectual property offshore undermines local industry.
O’Neill explains why traditional construction methods are stuck in a “1600s model,” while industries like aerospace have advanced dramatically. His modular homes can be assembled in days, reconfigured as needs change, and financed more like a car purchase than a 30-year mortgage, with modules priced around $50,000.
They discuss New Zealand’s housing affordability crisis, mortgage system challenges, and ongoing building quality issues. O’Neill also highlights government regulatory barriers and the lack of data collection on construction failures. Looking ahead, he sees opportunities for international expansion, particularly for humanitarian housing in conflict zones like Ukraine and Gaza, with production capabilities already scaling.
Watch all episodes of the Ways to Wealth Podcast here: www.eccuity.com/podcasts
#WaysToWealth #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #Housing