The Dom Harvey Podcast

This is a first for the Dom Harvey Podcast- a 4-way! I’m joined by Rowan, Alan and Adam from Viva La Dirt League- one of the biggest New Zealand success stories most Kiwis have never heard of.

Full disclosure: a week before this conversation, I didn’t know much about them either. Then I saw the buzz in the office, did a deep dive, and realised these three unassuming Kiwi lads have built something absolutely massive.

We’re talking 7.4 million YouTube subscribers, 5.6 billion views, a global fanbase, a custom-built studio with a giant green screen, a medieval tavern, a fake tech store, and a full-noise business that began with a few mates making nerdy videos for fun.

Rowan, Alan and Adam are the brains behind VLDL.
What started in 2011 with parody songs and rough-as-guts sketches has become an international comedy machine for /gamers and fantasy fans.

We talk about the early days when every video seemed to lose them subscribers.
The moment they quit safe jobs to go all-in.
Raising more than $4 million on Kickstarter.
The pressure of employing people.
And the strange reality of being famous to millions online while still walking around New Zealand mostly unnoticed.

This is a funny, honest chat about creativity, business, resilience, friendship and building something huge from the bottom of the world.

If you love VLDL you’ll naturally love this.
You’ll also get a lot from it if you are interested in becoming a content creator.
But its just great story for anyone who is interested in New Zealanders doing epic shit.
I loved this one. Hope you do too.

Massive thanks to my long‑term podcast sponsor, Generate.
Like a lot of Kiwis, I spent years saying, “I’ll look at my KiwiSaver account later.”
Turns out later comes around faster than you think, and the decisions you make now could be the difference between counting every dollar in retirement or having the freedom to take that trip you've always talked about.
I switched my KiwiSaver account to Generate after they came on board, and honestly, I should’ve done it sooner.
They’re an award-winning KiwiSaver provider with strong long‑term performance. You can check out their latest returns online, or book a no‑obligation chat with one of their friendly advisers at generatekiwisaver.co.nz/dom.
No pressure, no judgement — they’re just there to help wherever you’re at in your investing journey.
The issuer of the scheme is Generate Investment Management Limited. You can view their Product Disclosure Statement and Financial Advice Provider information at generatekiwisaver.co.nz/disclosures.
Past performance does not guarantee future returns.
And just a reminder — I’m a podcast host, not a financial adviser. This is general information only, and I recommend getting expert advice before making any financial decisions.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is bonus episode of the Dom Harvey Podcast, brought to you by Neon and their new Kiwi series Bust Up!
The show stars Morgana O’Reilly and Roimata Fox who play the roles of exes who end up working together, which felt very familiar! LOL

Check out the trailer for Bust Up Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGz8Tcj35IY

So, for this episode, I’m joined by my ex-wife, former radio co-host, and current business partner Jay-Jay Feeney.
We talk about:

+ What it’s really like to work with your ex.
+ How we went from married couple to business partners.
+ Why we still consider each other family.
+ And whether a marriage that ends can still be thought of as a success.

It’s honest, funny, occasionally uncomfortable.
Hope you like it.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tony Kemp (“Kempy”) had a massive career in rugby league playing for the Kwis and the Newcastle Knights in the NRL.
He was assistant coach of the Warriors when they made the NRL grand final in 2002. And by the age of 34 he was the head coach of the Warriors, with Ivan Clary as his assistant, before a very public sacking.
He’s also done a tonne of media work where he has a reputation for his strong opinions.
We discuss all those parts of Kempy in this podcast.

But this conversation is more about the man underneath all of that.

Tony talks about his childhood: the family tragedy that saw three of his siblings drown, being raised by his grandmother and initially believing she was his mum. Then growing up around chaos and domestic violence and the PTSD and depression that this unresolved trauma caused much later in life.
There are some heavy moments in this one. But there’s also humour, warmth and a lot of wisdom.
I came away from this conversation seeing Tony completely differently. I think you will too.
****

Massive thanks to Generate for sponsoring this episode.
We’ve all got that one mate who’s convinced they’ve worked out how to beat the market, usually with a lot of confidence and no actual expertise.
So, here's your reminder not to get caught up in the noise and trust the real investment experts at Generate.
I sat down with a Generate KiwiSaver adviser when they came on as the show sponsor in 2023, and it was one of those conversations that made me think, I should have done this years earlier!
A Generate adviser can help you figure out what fund type is best suited to your KiwiSaver goals.
Start planning now! Book a no cost chat with an adviser at generatekiwisaver.co.nz/dom

The issuer of the scheme is Generate Investment Management Limited. To see their PDS and Financial Advice Provider info see generatekiwisaver.co.nz/disclosures. Past performance does not guarantee future returns.

And remember, I’m not a financial adviser, so this is just general information. I recommend getting expert advice before making any financial decisions.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Molly Spark is a 22 year old from Canterbury, and she spends her spare time doing things that sound like a PTSD inducing nightmare for most of us:
Her sport is multi-day expedition races through mountains, rivers, forests and bush.

You may have heard of the iconic event called Godzone- it got a bit of mainstream coverage after Richie McCaw took part a few years ago- that’s an expedition race.

1000km in a week. Sleep deprivation. Hallucinations. Limited food. Carrying everything you need in a backpack. Navigating with a map and compass. And the wild part? She LIVES for this stuff. She is built different.
This podcast is a small part of the Molly Spark story.

We talk about resilience, fear, suffering, hallucinations, sleep deprivation, near-death moments, and why she genuinely believes discomfort is one of the best things a person can experience. There is also a great story about how Richie McCaw almost killed her.

This is one of my favourite podcasts so far- partly because the sport of expedition racing itself is so wild, but mostly because Molly is such a firecracker. She just oozes positivity and joy.
This chat definitely didn’t make me want to become an expedition racer….but it did make me wish Molly was my friend.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Greg Newbold is best known as one of New Zealand’s top criminologists. He spent 30 years at Canterbury University and became to go-to guy whenever the main stream media wanted someone to comment on crime.

But his back story is jaw dropping.

In the 1970s, when Greg was in his early 20s, he was a heroin user and dealer, socialising in the same circles as New Zealand’s most infamous drug dealer, Terry Clarke aka Mr Asia.

He eventually got busted and was sentenced to seven-and-a-half-years in prison.
Then somehow… he comes out the other side, gets a PhD and completely reinvented himself as one of New Zealand’s leading criminologists and university professors. And he has just put out a new book too called Dream Dealer.
https://www.paperplus.co.nz/shop/books/non-fiction/biography-memoir/dream-dealer

In this conversation, Greg opens up about how he became addicted to heroin, the reality of life at Paremoremo maximum security prison back then, and the surprising lessons he learned about human nature while locked up alongside some of the country’s most notorious criminals.

At nearly 75 years old, Greg’s still running, swimming, lifting weights, and reflecting on a life that’s been chaotic, controversial, and ultimately incredibly fulfilling.
***

Massive thanks to my long‑term podcast sponsor, Generate.
Like a lot of Kiwis, I spent years saying, “I’ll look at my KiwiSaver account later.”

Turns out later comes around faster than you think, and the decisions you make now could be the difference between counting every dollar in retirement or having the freedom to take that trip you've always talked about.
I switched my KiwiSaver account to Generate after they came on board, and honestly, I should’ve done it sooner.

They’re an award-winning KiwiSaver provider with strong long‑term performance. You can check out their latest returns online, or book a no‑obligation chat with one of their friendly advisers at generatekiwisaver.co.nz/dom.

No pressure, no judgement — they’re just there to help wherever you’re at in your investing journey.

The issuer of the scheme is Generate Investment Management Limited. You can view their Product Disclosure Statement and Financial Advice Provider information at generatekiwisaver.co.nz/disclosures.

Past performance does not guarantee future returns.

And just a reminder — I’m a podcast host, not a financial adviser. This is general information only, and I recommend getting expert advice before making any financial decisions.

The views and opinions expressed by guests on The Dom Harvey Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcast, its producers, or any sponsors associated with the show.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.