BEHIND THE BANTER | WHAT TO DO IN NEW ZEALAND: THE NIGHT SKY EXPERIENCE YOU CAN'T MISS | MOANA SKIES KAIKŌURA

BEHIND THE BANTER | WHAT TO DO IN NEW ZEALAND: THE NIGHT SKY EXPERIENCE YOU CAN'T MISS | MOANA SKIES KAIKŌURA

ON THIS EPISODE OF BEHIND THE BANTER, WE'RE THRILLED TO WELCOME BRAD MCCONVILLE BACK TO THE SHOW. THE LAST TIME BRAD JOINED US, WE TALKED FOOTBALL—BUT THIS TIME, WE'RE LOOKING UP. BRAD IS PART OF MOANA SKIES IN KAIKŌURA, NEW ZEALAND, WHERE HIS PASSION FOR ASTRONOMY, CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, AND STORYTELLING COMES TOGETHER TO CREATE ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST UNIQUE EXPERIENCES. WHETHER YOU'RE AN EXPERIENCED ASTROPHOTOGRAPHER, A CASUAL STARGAZER, OR SOMEONE WHO SIMPLY ENJOYS LOOKING UP AT THE NIGHT SKY, THIS CONVERSATION WILL LEAVE YOU WANTING TO EXPERIENCE NEW ZEALAND AFTER DARK. IN THIS EPISODE, WE EXPLORE: WHY MOANA SKIES HAS BECOME ONE OF KAIKŌURA'S MUST-VISIT EXPERIENCES. WHAT MAKES THE KAIKŌURA DARK SKY SANCTUARY SO SPECIAL AND WHY PROTECTING DARK SKIES MATTERS. THE INCREDIBLE STORY OF THE HUTTON'S SHEARWATER, A RARE SEABIRD THAT BREEDS ONLY IN THE KAIKŌURA REGION, AND HOW DARK SKY CONSERVATION HELPS PROTECT ITS FUTURE. HOW MĀORI ASTRONOMY, CULTURE, AND STORYTELLING ARE THOUGHTFULLY WOVEN INTO THE MOANA SKIES EXPERIENCE. EASY WAYS TO BEGIN STARGAZING—EVEN IF YOU DON'T OWN AN EXPENSIVE TELESCOPE. IF YOU'VE WATCHED BANTER ON THE ROCKS BEFORE, YOU KNOW WE'RE NATURALLY CURIOUS AND AREN'T AFRAID TO WANDER OFF SCRIPT. SOME OF OUR FAVORITE MOMENTS HAPPEN WHEN A SIMPLE QUESTION OPENS THE DOOR TO AN UNEXPECTED CONVERSATION, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED HERE. BY THE END OF THIS INTERVIEW, WE WALKED AWAY WITH AN EVEN GREATER APPRECIATION FOR ASTRONOMY, CONSERVATION, AND THE INCREDIBLE WORK BEING DONE IN KAIKŌURA. IF YOU'RE PLANNING A TRIP TO NEW ZEALAND, MAKE ROOM IN YOUR ITINERARY FOR KAIKŌURA AND MOANA SKIES. IT'S MORE THAN A TOUR—IT'S AN EXPERIENCE THAT WILL CHANGE THE WAY YOU LOOK AT THE NIGHT SKY. A HUGE THANK YOU TO BRAD MCCONVILLE FOR SHARING HIS KNOWLEDGE, PASSION, AND HOSPITALITY. WE HOPE THIS EPISODE INTRODUCES EVEN MORE PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD TO ONE OF NEW ZEALAND'S MOST UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN ASTRONOMY, DARK SKY CONSERVATION, MĀORI CULTURE, WILDLIFE, ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY, OR SIMPLY DISCOVERING INCREDIBLE PLACES TO VISIT IN NEW ZEALAND, THIS IS AN EPISODE YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS. WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU IN THE COMMENTS: HAVE YOU EVER EXPERIENCED A TRULY DARK SKY? WHAT'S THE MOST INCREDIBLE THING YOU'VE SEEN IN THE NIGHT SKY? IF YOU ENJOY THE EPISODE, PLEASE LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, AND SHARE IT TO HELP US CONTINUE BRINGING ON AMAZING GUESTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. MOANA SKIES | KAIKOURA : @monaskies via instagram Song: Happiness Artist: Owl Nest Music by: CreatorMix.com [http://CreatorMix.com] Photo Credit: https://kaikouradarksky.nz/ [https://kaikouradarksky.nz/] https://www.huttonsshearwater.org.nz/about-the-huttons-shearwater/ [https://www.huttonsshearwater.org.nz/about-the-huttons-shearwater/] https://www.parliament.nz/ [https://www.parliament.nz/] https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0861399/ [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0861399/] @moanaskies via instagram

2026 FIFA WORLD CUP ROUND OF 32 REACTIONS + TAYLOR SWIFT BACKLASH, AI GAMING & NBA NEWS

WELCOME BACK TO BANTER ON THE ROCKS, WHERE SPORTS, ENTERTAINMENT, POP CULTURE, MOVIES, AND UNFILTERED HOT TAKES COLLIDE! THIS WEEK WE'RE DIVING INTO ONE OF THE BIGGEST WEEKENDS OF THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP, BUT FIRST WE KICK THINGS OFF WITH A ROUND OF BANTER TAKES GUARANTEED TO SPARK DEBATE. WE BREAK DOWN WHETHER TAYLOR SWIFT AND TRAVIS KELCE'S HIGHLY PUBLICIZED FOURTH OF JULY WEDDING FESTIVITIES HAVE STARTED TO WEAR OUT THEIR CELEBRITY AURA, EXPLORE HOW AI-POWERED NPCS IN VIDEO GAMES COULD COMPLETELY TRANSFORM GAMING INTO A REAL-LIFE READY PLAYER ONE EXPERIENCE, AND CELEBRATE ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST UNEXPECTED FOOD STORIES AS SUBWAY UNVEILS ITS NEW FOOTLONG HOT DOG—BECAUSE SOMEHOW THIS IS THE NEWS WE NEVER KNEW WE NEEDED. THEN IT'S TIME FOR BANTER SPORTSBOOK, WHERE WE RECAP THE LATEST NBA NEWS, FREE AGENCY HEADLINES, AND LEAGUE STORYLINES BEFORE JUMPING INTO OUR WOLF PACK CHECK-IN FOR AN IN-DEPTH 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP ROUND OF 32 DISCUSSION. WE REACT TO THE BIGGEST MATCHES, SURPRISE TEAMS, HEARTBREAKING ELIMINATIONS, STANDOUT PERFORMANCES, AND EXPLAIN WHY THE EXPANDED 48-TEAM WORLD CUP FORMAT HAS EXCEEDED OUR EXPECTATIONS. FINALLY, WE WRAP THINGS UP WITH REELS ON THE ROCKS, UPDATING OUR SUMMER MOVIE BASH RANKINGS AND DISCUSSING WHY MINIONS FAILED TO LIVE UP TO THE HYPE AT THE BOX OFFICE. IF YOU LOVE SOCCER, THE NBA, GAMING, MOVIES, FOOD DEBATES, AND HILARIOUS CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN FRIENDS, YOU'VE FOUND YOUR NEW FAVORITE PODCAST—SO GRAB A DRINK, JOIN THE BANTER, AND LET US KNOW WHICH TAKE HAD YOU AGREEING...OR YELLING AT YOUR SCREEN. WHAT IS BANTER ON THE ROCKS? BANTER ON THE ROCKS" IS A SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PODCAST HOSTED BY TWO FRIENDS WHO LOVE DISCUSSING SPORTS, MOVIES, VIDEO GAMES, AND CURRENT EVENTS—ALL WHILE ENJOYING DRINKS AND ENGAGING IN LIVELY BANTER. THE SHOW WAS CREATED OUT OF A PASSION FOR FUN, UNFILTERED CONVERSATIONS AND AIMS TO BRING LISTENERS INTO THE RELAXED ATMOSPHERE OF FRIENDLY DEBATES AND STORYTELLING. EPISODES OFTEN FEATURE FRIENDS AND SPECIAL GUESTS WHO JOIN THE HOSTS TO SHARE THEIR INSIGHTS AND OPINIONS, MAKING EVERY EPISODE FEEL LIKE A LAID-BACK HANGOUT WITH GOOD COMPANY. MAKE OR GRAB YOUR FAVORITE DRINK AND JOIN US WEEKLY. YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/@BanterOntheRocks [http://www.youtube.com/@BanterOntheRocks] APPLE PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banter-on-the-rocks/id1775365645 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banter-on-the-rocks/id1775365645] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4VhbRXPwuJ1OgTKUhRqeA6?si=Hnvd9GtgRsu4Jad1h2WIIw [https://open.spotify.com/show/4VhbRXPwuJ1OgTKUhRqeA6?si=Hnvd9GtgRsu4Jad1h2WIIw] SHOW SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES INSTAGRAM: banter_on_the_rocks PINA: INSTAGRAM: @john_pina_pineda TIKTOK: @john_pina_pineda TWITCH: botr_pina TIM: INSTAGRAM: banterontherocks_tim TIKTOK: tim_wolfy_wolfgram TWITCH: Tim_banterontherocks Song: Happiness Artist: Owl Nest Music by: CreatorMix.com [http://CreatorMix.com]

WORLD CUP CHAOS

THE FIFA WORLD CUP IS HEATING UP, THE NBA OFFSEASON IS EXPLODING, AND THE INTERNET CAN'T STOP TALKING ABOUT GTA 6. THIS WEEK ON BANTER ON THE ROCKS, WE'RE BREAKING DOWN THE BIGGEST STORIES IN SPORTS, GAMING, AND ENTERTAINMENT WITH PLENTY OF DEBATE, HOT TAKES, AND THE BANTER YOU KNOW US FOR. WE KICK THINGS OFF WITH BANTER TAKES, WHERE WE DIVE INTO THE GROWING HYPE SURROUNDING GTA 6 AND DISCUSS WHETHER ROCKSTAR'S NEXT BLOCKBUSTER COULD REDEFINE GAMING WITH AI-POWERED FEATURES AND UNPRECEDENTED REALISM. THEN WE TACKLE ONE OF THE HOTTEST SPORTS DEBATES OF THE WEEK: THE WNBA'S 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AND THE DECISION TO LEAVE CAITLIN CLARK OUT OF THE FEATURED PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN. IS THE LEAGUE MAKING A MAJOR MARKETING MISTAKE, OR IS THERE MORE TO THE STORY? WE BREAK DOWN BOTH SIDES AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF THE WNBA. NEXT, IT'S TIME FOR THE WOLFPACK CHECK-IN AS WE WRAP UP THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE AND LOOK AHEAD TO THE ROUND OF 32. WE DISCUSS THE TOURNAMENT'S BIGGEST SURPRISES, SHOCKING DISAPPOINTMENTS, BREAKOUT NATIONS, AND OUR PREDICTIONS FOR THE KNOCKOUT ROUNDS. TIM ALSO SHARES HOW THIS WORLD CUP COMPLETELY CHANGED HIS PERSPECTIVE ON SOCCER, EXPLAINING WHY EVEN CASUAL SPORTS FANS SHOULD GIVE THE TOURNAMENT A CHANCE. IN BANTER SPORTSBOOK, WE REACT TO THE LATEST NBA TRADES, FREE AGENCY RUMORS, AND THE MOVES THAT COULD RESHAPE THE LEAGUE BEFORE NEXT SEASON TIPS OFF. FINALLY, WE CLOSE THE SHOW WITH REELS ON THE ROCKS, WHERE WE UPDATE OUR SUMMER MOVIE CHALLENGE STANDINGS AND GIVE OUR THOUGHTS ON THE LATEST SUPERGIRL REVIEW. IF YOU LOVE THE FIFA WORLD CUP, NBA NEWS, WNBA DEBATES, GTA 6 UPDATES, MOVIES, AND AUTHENTIC SPORTS CONVERSATIONS, THIS IS AN EPISODE YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS. LIKE THE VIDEO IF YOU ENJOYED IT. JOIN THE CONVERSATION IN THE COMMENTS AND LET US KNOW YOUR BIGGEST WORLD CUP SURPRISE, YOUR NBA PREDICTIONS, AND WHETHER THE WNBA SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED CAITLIN CLARK. SUBSCRIBE TO BANTER ON THE ROCKS FOR WEEKLY SPORTS, ENTERTAINMENT, GAMING, AND POP CULTURE DISCUSSIONS. NEW EPISODES DROP EVERY WEEK! YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/@BanterOntheRocks [http://www.youtube.com/@BanterOntheRocks] APPLE PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banter-on-the-rocks/id1775365645 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banter-on-the-rocks/id1775365645] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4VhbRXPwuJ1OgTKUhRqeA6?si=Hnvd9GtgRsu4Jad1h2WIIw [https://open.spotify.com/show/4VhbRXPwuJ1OgTKUhRqeA6?si=Hnvd9GtgRsu4Jad1h2WIIw] SHOW SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES INSTAGRAM: banter_on_the_rocks PINA: INSTAGRAM: @john_pina_pineda TIKTOK: @john_pina_pineda TWITCH: botr_pina TIM: INSTAGRAM: banterontherocks_tim TIKTOK: tim_wolfy_wolfgram TWITCH: Tim_banterontherocks Song: Happiness Artist: Owl Nest Music by: CreatorMix.com [http://CreatorMix.com]

BEHIND THE BANTER | HOW SOUTH ISLAND UNITED IS BUILDING MORE THAN JUST A FOOTBALL CLUB

ON THIS EPISODE OF BEHIND THE BANTER, WE SIT DOWN WITH TWO OF THE PEOPLE HELPING BUILD SOUTH ISLAND UNITED FC FROM THE GROUND UP IN CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND. JOINING US ARE BRAD MCCONVILLE, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER AND FOUNDER OF THE SOUTHERN FRONT SUPPORTERS CLUB, AND RYAN EDWARDS, GENERAL MANAGER OF SOUTH ISLAND UNITED. TOGETHER, THEY TAKE US BEHIND THE SCENES OF LAUNCHING ONE OF THE NEWEST CLUBS IN THE OFC PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE, THE EXCITING NEW COMPETITION REPRESENTING OCEANIA ON THE ROAD TO THE GLOBAL FOOTBALL STAGE. WE DISCUSS: HOW SOUTH ISLAND UNITED WAS CREATED AND THE VISION BEHIND THE CLUB THE CHALLENGES OF BUILDING A FOOTBALL CLUB FROM DAY ONE REPRESENTING CHRISTCHURCH AND THE SOUTH ISLAND WITH AUTHENTICITY AND PRIDE THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY, CULTURE, AND SUPPORTER-DRIVEN FOOTBALL THE CLUB'S AMBITIONS ON AND OFF THE PITCH WHY NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO BECOME A SUPPORTER AND GROW WITH THE CLUB FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WHETHER YOU'RE A LIFELONG FOOTBALL FAN, FOLLOW THE FIFA WORLD CUP, SUPPORT CLUBS AROUND THE WORLD, OR SIMPLY LOVE HEARING THE STORIES BEHIND ORGANIZATIONS BEING BUILT FROM SCRATCH, THIS CONVERSATION OFFERS A UNIQUE LOOK AT ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING NEW PROJECTS IN OCEANIA. IF YOU'RE SEARCHING FOR A NEW CLUB TO FOLLOW, SOUTH ISLAND UNITED MAY JUST BE THE PERFECT TEAM TO GET BEHIND BEFORE THE REST OF THE FOOTBALL WORLD CATCHES ON. IF YOU ENJOY INTERVIEWS LIKE THIS, BE SURE TO LIKE, SUBSCRIBE! YOU CAN FOLLOW SOUTH ISLAND UNITED ON INSTAGRAM @SOUTHISLANDUNITED. SHOW SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES INSTAGRAM: banter_on_the_rocks PINA: INSTAGRAM: @john_pina_pineda TIKTOK: @john_pina_pineda TWITCH: botr_pina TIM: INSTAGRAM: banterontherocks_tim TIKTOK: tim_wolfy_wolfgram TWITCH: Tim_banterontherocks Song: Happiness Artist: Owl Nest Music by: CreatorMix.com [http://CreatorMix.com]

FUTBOL BEYOND BORDERS

THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP CONTINUES TO DELIVER INCREDIBLE MOMENTS, SHOCKING UPSETS, AND NONSTOP BANTER—AND WE'RE BREAKING IT ALL DOWN ON THIS WEEK'S BANTER ON THE ROCKS! WE KICK THINGS OFF WITH OUR WOLFPACK CHECK-IN, WHERE WE CHECK IN ON TEAM USA'S TOURNAMENT, REVISIT JOHN'S BOLD TURKEY DARK HORSE PREDICTION (WHICH HAS QUICKLY TURNED INTO ONE OF THE BIGGEST BUSTS OF THE WORLD CUP), AND DISCUSS WHICH OTHER NATIONS HAVE BEEN THE TOURNAMENT'S BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS. AS NEWLY ADOPTED KIWI SUPPORTERS, WE ALSO RECAP NEW ZEALAND'S WORLD CUP JOURNEY AND WHAT IT'S BEEN LIKE JOINING ONE OF THE BEST FAN BASES IN FOOTBALL. WE ALSO DIVE INTO MEXICO VS. SOUTH KOREA, CAPE VERDE'S SURPRISING RUN, AND SETTLE ONE OF THE BIGGEST DEBATES IN SPORTS—WHO IS THE GOAT OF SOCCER: LIONEL MESSI OR CRISTIANO RONALDO? THEN IT'S TIME FOR BANTER TAKES, WHERE WE ASK IF THE TRADER JOE'S HYPE IS COMPLETELY OVERRATED WHILE BUC-EE'S CONTINUES TO PROVE IT'S AMERICA'S TRUE MVP. WE ALSO DISCUSS HOW FANS FROM AROUND THE WORLD EXPERIENCING AMERICAN CULTURE—FROM BBQ AND BUC-EE'S TO WALMART—IS CREATING SOME OF THE FUNNIEST AND MOST WHOLESOME CONTENT OF THE ENTIRE WORLD CUP. OVER IN BANTER SPORTSBOOK, WE REACT TO THE LATEST BLOCKBUSTER NBA TRADE RUMORS, BREAK DOWN NBA DRAFT DAY, AND DISCUSS WHAT THESE MOVES MEAN FOR NEXT SEASON. FINALLY, WE WRAP THINGS UP WITH REELS ON THE ROCKS, WHERE WE CONTINUE OUR SUMMER MOVIE GAME AND JOHN GIVES HIS QUICK REVIEW OF TOY STORY 5. SO GRAB YOUR FAVORITE DRINK (IF THE TARTAN ARMY HASN'T ALREADY EMPTIED THE SHELVES), PULL UP A CHAIR, AND JOIN US FOR ANOTHER PACKED EPISODE OF BANTER ON THE ROCKS! LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS: WHO IS THE GOAT: MESSI OR RONALDO? WHO HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST SURPRISE AND BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE WORLD CUP? WHICH NBA MOVE SHOCKED YOU THE MOST THIS WEEK? DON'T FORGET TO LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, AND TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS SO YOU NEVER MISS AN EPISODE! NEW EPISODES DROP EVERY WEEK! YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/@BanterOntheRocks [http://www.youtube.com/@BanterOntheRocks] APPLE PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banter-on-the-rocks/id1775365645 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banter-on-the-rocks/id1775365645] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4VhbRXPwuJ1OgTKUhRqeA6?si=Hnvd9GtgRsu4Jad1h2WIIw [https://open.spotify.com/show/4VhbRXPwuJ1OgTKUhRqeA6?si=Hnvd9GtgRsu4Jad1h2WIIw] SHOW SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES INSTAGRAM: banter_on_the_rocks PINA: INSTAGRAM: @john_pina_pineda TIKTOK: @john_pina_pineda TWITCH: botr_pina TIM: INSTAGRAM: banterontherocks_tim TIKTOK: tim_wolfy_wolfgram TWITCH: Tim_banterontherocks Song: Happiness Artist: Owl Nest Music by: CreatorMix.com [http://CreatorMix.com]