Across The Table With David Melse

For episode 224, we met up with Tim Aldridge in Marlborough to tour PURO, the biggest cannabis farm in New Zealand. With over 60,000 plants, it’s something you have to see (and smell) to believe! In this mini episode of the podcast we hear the story of how Tim, Sank and Tom founded PURO, how it broke the NZ crowdfunding record on PledgeMe, how difficult it’s been to get started, and how fast the operation has been scaling. Tim predicts that Marlborough could be one of the best places in the world to grow medicinal cannabis, and explains how despite their massive success in markets such as Australia, Germany and the UK, how kiwis are unable to buy the product for themselves. This is a really unique business story that you won't find anywhere else! 

 

Check out PURO here:

www.puro.nz

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We’d like to thank our sponsor for this episode, Rosefern Homes. Check them out here:
https://www.rosefernhomes.co.nz/

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Produced by Buddy Booth

For episode 223, we met up with Lucas Devotion at the newly completed ‘Fillin Holes’ mini golf course. 11 months ago, Lucas was on the podcast explaining his plan to turn an abandoned Christchurch city lot into a construction themed mini golf course. Now, less than 1 year later, the vision has come to life! David and Lucas hit it off with an all new format. 18 questions over 18 holes. The questions cover all topics from the initial idea, building in public, sponsorships, ram raids, support from the community, future projects and the lasting legacy of iconic projects. This was a super fun episode to film, and covers a really unique business story. Who will win the game of mini golf? Listen to find out! (This episode was filmed and recorded outside, and may contain some ambient background noise)

 

Check out Fillin Holes here:

www.fillinholes.co.nz

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We’d like to thank our sponsor for this episode, Rosefern Homes. Check them out here:
https://www.rosefernhomes.co.nz/

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Produced by Buddy Booth

For episode 222, David and Buddy sat down for the first new podcast episode of the year, announcing the end of the previous podcast format, and announcing an all new style for 2026. Rather than continuing the studio format, we are spicing things up and taking the podcast on the road, with a new style that combines free form documentary and educational content. David lays out his goals for the new year, as well as recapping some of the big events from 2025.

This is just a short one as we test out the new format, but we are hyped to bring you the next episode! Stay tuned for more!

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We’d like to thank our sponsor for this episode, Rosefern Homes. Check them out here:
https://www.rosefernhomes.co.nz/

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Produced by Buddy Booth

For episode 221, we sat down with Curtis Fairweather to dissect the exponential growth of his Tallow Skincare business, which launched only ten months ago and has scaled at a record-breaking pace. Curtis shares the core strategy that fueled this fire: keeping his processes aggressively streamlined, launching with only four key products for the first seven months, and leaning heavily into paid ads to generate quick cash flow that could be immediately reinvested for maximum acceleration. It’s a masterclass in how to build a high-growth e-commerce brand designed for velocity.

The conversation dives into the unlikely origin story of the product, which started as a bone broth venture before pivoting after a customer mentioned using the residual animal fat (tallow) to treat a hand rash. Curtis explains how he intentionally shifted the brand's focus from general 'beauty' to solving real-world problems like eczema, a move that gave his business instant credibility. This approach was cemented by working closely with the Eczema Association, which helped the product cut through the crowded market and gave his rapidly growing 19-person team a powerful sense of mission.

Finally, Curtis gives us the honest truth about the grind required to sustain this scale. He reveals he stayed too long at his day job in a software company and was "way burnt out" before taking the leap, which ultimately accelerated his growth. We cover the logistical nightmare of running manufacturing and shipping 100% in-house, and how he just signed a lease for a new space three times bigger to hold inventory. This chat is packed with hard-won lessons on the necessity of simplifying your product line, focusing on the most important, high-leverage task, and accepting that your yearly goals will likely be met in four months.

Check out Primal Pantry:
https://www.primalpantry.co.nz/

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We’d like to thank our sponsor for this episode, Rosefern Homes. Check them out here:
https://www.rosefernhomes.co.nz/

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Across The Table with David Melse has taken a dramatic increase in production value thanks to the team at Distinct. 

Looking for content partners to take your brand to the next level? Get in touch with them here:
https://www.distinctagency.co.nz

For episode 220, we sat down with Diego Ramirez, an expert known for mastery in AI business automation. Diego shares an unprecedented and urgent message: his current technical skillset is on the verge of obsolescence. He explains that with platforms like OpenAI and other tools advancing so rapidly, the need for human input on the how to automate will soon vanish. This conversation is a crucial wake up call for any business leader trying to stay ahead of the curve.

We dive deep into the next level of expertise, which Diego predicts will shift entirely from the technical execution to the strategic question: What and why should a business automate? This pivot requires business owners to be open minded and not fearful of new technology, or risk falling behind those who already have a "leg up" in the market. The true challenge is no longer coding, but vision.

Ultimately, this is a discussion about future-proofing your business and your career. Diego shares the importance of surrounding yourself with "expanders"—people who stretch your blueprint for what is possible—to help you ask the right questions and develop the intuition necessary to thrive in an era of exponential change. Get ready to shift your thinking from tasks to strategy and secure your place in the automated future.

Check out Diego at HMN PLUS:
https://www.hmn.plus/

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We’d like to thank our sponsor for this episode, Rosefern Homes. Check them out here:
https://www.rosefernhomes.co.nz/

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Across The Table with David Melse has taken a dramatic increase in production value thanks to the team at Distinct. 

Looking for content partners to take your brand to the next level? Get in touch with them here:
https://www.distinctagency.co.nz