A pod to get people talking

The region is getting its own locally-focussed podcast with the launch of The Nelson Pod this month. A collaboration between Top South Media, video production company Be Seen More and journalist and former Nelson City Councillor Matt Lawrey, The Nelson Pod promises to deliver compelling conversations with the people who make the region tick and some of the inspiring but often under-the-radar characters who call Nelson home.

Featuring studio-based, long-form interviews hosted by Matt, The Nelson Pod will be available to watch on Nelson App, You Tube and social media channels or listen to via Spotify.

For Matt, The Nelson Pod is the latest in a long list of media projects and roles. The winner of two New Zealand Radio Awards, a former television presenter and a Nelson Magazine columnist, Matt is a big believer in the importance of a strong local media scene.

“It’s important in terms of people knowing what’s going on and countering misinformation but it’s also critical in terms of introducing people to new ideas and opportunities. That’s going to be a big part of The Nelson Pod. We’re going to be talking to some really dynamic people and telling some thoughtprovoking stories that will hopefully get Nelsonians thinking about what kind of a future we want for our region,” Matt said.

TSM managing director Andrew Board is thrilled with the way the podcast is coming together. “I love the way we each bring really complementary skills and resources to the project, and we all share the view that our region deserves its own professionally produced podcast. It’s also an exciting step for Top South Media. We think it’s going to get Nelson talking and offer our clients a brilliant new way of connecting with people across print, digital and audio platforms,” he said.

Be Seen More founder Todd Starr says The Nelson Pod is a game-changing addition to the region's media landscape and is long overdue. By combining the authenticity of podcasts with the power of video, we are giving viewers a front-row seat to the most compelling interviews with local newsmakers and thought leaders.

“Audio podcasts are great but we believe that if you're not producing a video first pod, you will lose a lot of the value and impact you are trying to create. We’re doing things in an intimate way that’s really going to draw people in and give them an insight into local personalities in a way that hasn’t really been done before. For me, the exciting part is the ability to create a diverse range of mixed media content and make it accessible wherever our audience wants to consume it," he said.

The first edition of The Nelson Pod features Victory Boxing founder Paul Hampton talking about the highs and lows of building the charity, turning 50, and why he’s making some changes in his life.

Future guests include:

The creator of the Paranormal Activity movie franchise, Oren Peli, on the making of one of the most commercially successful films of all time and how he freaked out Steven Spielberg.

Entrepreneur Justin Rich on the sale of his health food company for $463M and what New Zealand businesses need to do to have a crack at the US market.

Architect, academic and building products innovator Magdalena Garbarczyk on the downside of urban sprawl and her sustainable vision for the future of building products.

The new CEO of Pic’s Peanut Butter, Aimee McCammon, on why family is at the heart of the acclaimed business and where she wants to take it.

Pic Picot on why making his step-daughter, Aimee, CEO was the right move for the company and what’s next for him.

And Academy Award-winning art director Dan Hennah and his partner in life and work, his wife, Chris Hennah, on the future of the movies, how they got to where they are today and hanging out at the top of the Empire State Building with Naomi Watts.

The Nelson Pod launches on May 3 and is available to watch or listen to on YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, the Nelson App and Spotify.