The Guest Speaker

• Building a Meaningful Career in Social Work with Clare Ennis (Social Worker)

  From top-of-the-class student to front-line social worker, Clare Ennis has quietly built a career around something you’ll never see on a pay slip: dignity, advocacy, and deeply human care. In this episode, Clare traces her path from high-achieving “you-could-be-a-doctor” teen to working with young parents, students, and communities with high and complex needs.We talk about what it was really like growing up with academic excellence as “the norm,” the pressure to choose prestige careers like medicine or law, and why chemistry became the early red flag that something wasn’t lining up. Clare walks us through her gap year teaching English in Poland at seventeen, working at New World, and drifting through a BA in Wellington—nannying, fundraising at the children’s hospital, and realising she was pouring energy into everything except uni. Volunteering at Youthline becomes a turning point: she learns to listen, sits on the phones with young people in crisis, starts training new volunteers, and even meets her future husband there.Finally, Clare reflects on boundaries, burnout, and why “caring a lot” is both her superpower and her ongoing challenge. She shares the importance of supervision and support networks, and the difference between “hard but right” work and the kind of misalignment that’s a sign you should quit. Her advice to her Year 12 self, and to any student who feels the weight of expectation or suspects they’re built for something more people-focused than pay-focused, is simple and powerful: learn about yourself, follow your values, don’t be afraid to leave what’s not working, and don’t overlook social work. The complexity, impact, and meaning are immense.#socialwork #career #podcast #newzealand

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• World Class Whitewater: Turning a Love of Rivers into a Career with Mitchell Lamb (Outdoor Education: Kayaker)

  Mitchell Lamb went from Cambridge classrooms and water polo training to rafting some of the world’s wildest rivers, and now helps teenagers turn whitewater into a way of life. In this episode, Mitchell traces his journey from “relatively academic kid” to Program Director at World Class Academy, a travelling high school for adventure athletes that treats rivers, trails, and cultures as the curriculum.We talk about his decision to skip the straight-to-uni conveyor belt and head to Tai Poutini Polytechnic on the West Coast, where two years of outdoor ed, 10-day bush trips, and full-immersion learning fast-tracked his maturity in ways a lecture theatre never could. Mitchell breaks down what those programs actually involve—costs, study load, the gear, the lifestyle—and how that diploma led to raft-guiding seasons in Turangi, California, Canada, and ultimately to the famous Kaituna River.Mitchell also lifts the curtain on World Class Academy: a US-accredited high school that moves through Canada, New Zealand, South America, Europe & more while students spend their mornings in small-group classes, then hit whitewater every afternoon. We dive into safety, risk and resilience, what it’s really like to be “on” 24/7 as a teacher–guide–mentor, and how he navigates deep relationships with students who may see him as coach, big brother, and sometimes stand-in parent.Finally, Mitchell reflects on what all this means for life after World Class - how you turn a love of rivers into a sustainable career, why outdoor ed still matters in a tech-saturated world, and the advice he’d give his Year 12–13 self (and any student who feels more at home on a rock ledge or in a kayak than behind a desk): follow the opportunities that light you up, jump in headfirst, and trust that something good will come from backing what you love.Thanks Lamb!! Enjoy everyone!

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• Inside the World of Beauty Therapy with Victoria Toye (Beauty Therapist & Business Owner)

  From a small-town childhood to founding The Darling Room, Victoria Toye opens up about her work behind building a people-first beauty practice: education, empathy, and emotional intelligence. She traces the early spark that led her into beauty therapy, the science that underpins her treatments, and the quiet confidence she cultivated to take up space in the industry. We dive into holistic care as a lens for healing, the power of listening deeply to clients, and the belief system that guides her decisions. Victoria shares how trusting her instincts, asking questions, and challenging workplace norms became defining moments in her career progression. She also speaks candidly about the courage it takes to run a business built on care: balancing client needs, professional standards, and the emotional labour that comes with supporting people through their skin journeys. Her philosophy is anchored in empowerment. Above techniques and treatments, Victoria’s proudest achievement is the way she shows up: with empathy, integrity, and a belief in holistic well-being - proof that beauty therapy is as much about who you are as what you do.Enjoy this brilliant episode & prepare to learn a lot about what it takes to thrive as a Beauty Therapist!

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• Dai Henwood on Life, Laughter, and Growth (Comedian)

  From “class clown” to Officer of the NZ Order of Merit, Dai Henwood opens up about the real work behind making people laugh: curiosity, grit, and character. He traces the spark from Wellington College to Victoria University, the moment he realized he was a comedian, and the work ethic he learned watching his parents. We dive into people skills as a superpower, saying yes to scary opportunities, and the women who’ve backed him at every step.Dai also shares his candid philosophy while living with stage-four cancer—why he waited two years to go public, how to feel emotions rather than outrun them, and the mantra that keeps him grounded: “Optimism won’t cure me, but pessimism will kill me.”Above accolades and TV gigs, Dai’s proudest achievement is the person he’s become as a husband and father—proof that success is who you are, not what you have.It’s truly a gift to share this episode with Dai Henwood on The Guest Speaker.

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• A Career in Surfboard Craftsmanship with Lou Aitken (Surfboard Shaper)

  In this episode, we dive into the world of surfboard shaping with Lou Aitken — where creativity, craftsmanship, and a love for the ocean collide. Lou shares her journey of discovering a passion for board building, sparked by family influence and hands-on experiences in the surfboard factory.From touring workshops as a kid to building their very first shortboard, this story captures the excitement of turning curiosity into craft. What began as fascination soon became a lifelong pursuit — a blend of design, precision, and the deep satisfaction that comes from working with your hands.We explore the connection between surfing and shaping — how riding the waves fuels the creative process, and how every board built is a reflection of both art and adventure. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best careers start not from a plan, but from a spark.Whether you’re drawn to design, the trades, or just love hearing about people who create with passion, this episode will leave you inspired to turn what you love into what you do.

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