the me.vibes podcast

Built on Mud, Love and a Broken Ankle with Nigel Abercrombie

In this episode of the me.vibes podcast, Maria sits down with her husband, Nigel Abercrombie, surfer, dad, landscaper, broken-ankled legend, and the heart behind Sustainable Scapes. Recorded while Nigel was lying in the office with a pink glitter cast after a surfing injury, this conversation is honest, funny and full of the real stuff that comes with building a business from the ground up. Maria and Nigel talk about moving to Gisborne, starting Sustainable Scapes, what people often misunderstand about landscaping, why gardens matter, and what it really takes to run a business when life, clients, staff, weather and cash flow all decide to have opinions. They also get into the messy, beautiful side of working together as husband and wife, the support, the stress, the laughs, the “are we broke or are we manifesting?” moments, and what their kids might learn from watching them build something with heart. This episode is about business, family, sustainability, resilience, trades, gardens, and the magic that happens when you keep going, even when life knocks you off your feet. Warning: contains swear words, business honesty, glitter cast commentary and one very passionate takedown of agapanthus. In this episode, we cover: * How Nigel broke his ankle surfing and what it forced the business to rethink * The real story behind starting Sustainable Scapes * Why landscaping is so much more than “just putting plants in the ground” * The hidden work behind gardens, paving, drainage, soil and structure * What sustainability means in landscaping * The reality of running a business with your partner * Why people are both the best and hardest part of business * What success looks like now: bills paid, family happy, surf included * What Nigel hopes their kids learn from watching the business grow A funny, grounded and heartfelt conversation about building a business, creating beautiful spaces, and surviving the chaos with love, grit and a decent sense of humour.

Intentional Ambition: Building a Business Without Losing Yourself with Courtney Henderson

In this episode of the me.vibes podcast, Maria sits down with Courtney Henderson, founder of Think Folk, a boutique marketing and communications business based in Hawke’s Bay. Courtney shares her journey from working in marketing roles across New Zealand, the UK and Australia, to starting her own business after becoming a mum of three. We talk about ambition, motherhood, identity, marketing, confidence, and what it means to build a business that actually fits your life. This conversation is such a beautiful reminder that you do not need to be everywhere, do everything, or follow every trend to build something meaningful. Courtney brings such a grounded and thoughtful perspective on marketing — one that is less about noise, and more about clarity, strategy and connection. We also talk about AI, creativity and the future of business. Courtney shares her honest thoughts on using AI for the busy work, while protecting the human thinking, taste and creativity that make a brand feel real. This episode is for anyone building a business, growing a brand, navigating motherhood and ambition, or trying to do things in a way that feels more intentional. In this episode, we chat about: * Courtney’s career journey and the stepping stones that led to Think Folk * Starting a business after having three young children * Why marketing does not need to mean being everywhere at once * The pressure of social media and vanity metrics * Building a business with intention and commercial ambition * The difference between personal brand and professional presence * AI, creativity and keeping business human * Finding joy, creativity and space outside of work You can connect with Courtney and learn more about Think Folk here: Instagram: @thinkfolk [https://www.instagram.com/think.folk]LinkedIn: Courtney Henderson [linkedin.com/in/courtneyjhenderson/?skipRedirect=true]Website: thinkfolk.co.nz [https://www.thinkfolk.co.nz/] Email: courtney@thinkfolk.co.nz [courtney@thinkfolk.co.nz?] A warm, honest and thoughtful conversation about building something slowly, strategically and in a way that still feels like you.

Get Over Yourself: Visibility, AI and the Future of Women in Business With Francesca Alexander

In this episode of the me.vibes podcast, Maria sits down with Francesca Alexander for a bold, funny and deeply energising conversation about social media, AI, visibility and what it really means to build a personal brand as a woman in business. Francesca shares her journey from Los Angeles to New Zealand, from corporate skincare and social media strategy to building Social Global Grind, Hustle & Glow, and a platform that helps women use content, confidence and technology to create the life and business they want. Together, Maria and Francesca talk about why so many business owners are still holding back online, how AI can make work feel more human, why visibility is no longer optional, and how women, especially women of colour and immigrant women, can stop waiting for permission and start taking up space. This episode covers: How social media has changed since the early days Why AI should be seen as leverage, not a threat How small businesses can use AI for research, content and strategy Why visibility feels so uncomfortable, and why it matters The role of personal brand in your future opportunities How to stop overthinking content and start showing up Why “perfect” content is often less powerful than honest content It is part strategy, part pep talk, part Latina auntie reality check, and full of practical reminders for anyone who wants to be seen, heard and taken seriously online. As Francesca says: “Girl, they don’t know you if they can’t see you.” Connect with Francesca: Francesca’s LinkedIn profile linkedin.com/in/francescaalexander [https://www.linkedin.com/in/francescaalexander/] Website socialglobalgrind.com [https://www.linkedin.com/safety/go/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Esocialglobalgrind%2Ecom&urlhash=Ognf&isSdui=true] (Company) facebook.com [https://www.linkedin.com/safety/go/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Efacebook%2Ecom%2Fpages%2FSocial-Global-Grind%2F148473468554006%3Fref_type%3Dbookmark&urlhash=lQsY&isSdui=true] (Personal) hustleandglow.com [https://www.linkedin.com/safety/go/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fhustleandglow%2Ecom%2Famp%2F&urlhash=eU5A&isSdui=true] (Blog) Email francesca.g.alexander@gmail.com [francesca.g.alexander@gmail.com] Listen to more episodes of the me.vibes podcast for honest conversations about business, technology, AI, motherhood, visibility and doing things before you feel fully ready.

The Queue Is the Clue: Bottlenecks, Busy Leaders and AI with Clarke Ching

In this episode of the me.vibes podcast, Maria sits down with Clarke Ching, author, bottleneck thinker, Theory of Constraints expert, and all-round brilliant brain, for a conversation about business, leadership, AI, decision-making, and why being busy is not always the flex we think it is. Maria first came across Clarke’s work through Rolling Rocks Downhill [https://www.amazon.com/Ching-Clarke-Rolling-Rocks-Downhill/dp/B0184WUFIM/ref=books_amazonstores_desktop_mfs_aufs_ap_sc_dsk_4?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=bfRdh&content-id=amzn1.sym.9c9a049f-252a-49d9-a8c2-e300a1663200&pf_rd_p=9c9a049f-252a-49d9-a8c2-e300a1663200&pf_rd_r=130-6786282-5745257&pd_rd_wg=ST6Cx&pd_rd_r=e28bf9ff-5ae7-489c-9fc6-14d5bb8a0a98], a book that shaped how she thinks about systems, conflict, and better decision-making. In this conversation, they explore why bottlenecks matter, how leaders often become the constraint in their own business, and why the queue is usually the clue. They also talk about Clarke’s books, the “oxygen hour”, the motorcade method, AI and the future of work, writing with AI, and why cleverness can sometimes become a curse if it is not paired with wisdom. This is a big, generous, brain-sparking conversation for founders, leaders, managers, and anyone who feels like they are doing too much but not necessarily moving forward. In this episode, we cover: * Why busy does not always mean productive * How to spot bottlenecks in your business or team * Why leaders need protected thinking time The “queue is the clue” approach * How AI may change the shape of work * Why being clever can become a curse * Clarke’s books, writing process, and use of AI * How to move from clever and busy to wise and calm You can find Clarke Ching on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarkeching/], where he generously shares his ideas, books, and bottleneck wisdom. Clarke's books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B002B8HH96 If this episode makes you think of a founder, leader, manager, or beautifully overwhelmed human who needs to hear it, please share it with them.

You Don’t Need More Tools, You Need Fewer Problems with Hamish Nuttall

What happens when you take the brain behind New Zealand’s Naked Bus and point it at AI? In this episode, Hamish Nuttall and I talk about stripping away everything customers don’t need, building systems that actually work, and why an AI “receptionist” might be the most practical tool small businesses can adopt right now. We dive into: * How Naked Bus went from 3 riders on day one to 40% market share by obsessing over customer problems, not cool features. * Why every “contact us” moment is a defect, and how Hamish used tiny tweaks (like a tick box!) to cut support down to almost nothing. * The danger of building million‑dollar solutions before you’ve run a $100 experiment. * What an AI receptionist actually does: instant replies, qualifying leads and booking appointments by text, while you stay under the sink / in the clinic / with your clients. * Why speed to lead (seconds, not hours) is the difference between getting the job and being ghosted. If you’re a founder or small business owner drowning in admin and “shoulds”, this conversation will help you refocus on the one problem that really moves the needle, and let smart systems quietly handle the rest. Learn more about Hamish’s work at Lazy Magnet and his AI agents at lazymagnet.ai [lazymagnet.ai]. Or contact him at hamish@lazymagnet.ai [hamish@lazymagnet.ai] And if this episode helped, send it to a friend who’s still running their business on a paper diary.