The Mountain Club Podcast

The Augmented Human: Drew Knowles and Dr Simon McKenzie-Nickson on the Science of Sustainable High Performance

Host Paddy Kluts sits down with Drew Knowles and Dr Simon McKenzie-Nickson, the duo behind the Augmented Human Series, for a conversation on burnout, busyness, and the biology underneath both. Drew brings three decades across behavioural consulting, stress physiology, and human performance. Simon brings a PhD in neuroscience and deep flow state research. Together they trace the exhaustion so many ambitious people are quietly carrying back to its roots in the nervous system, hormone biology, and behavioural patterns that were never built for the 50 gigabytes of input a day we are currently taking in. The conversation cuts through hustle culture and quick-fix biohacks to land somewhere more useful, a biology-first framework for performing at a genuinely higher level without burning out in the process. A grounded, science-led listen on stress, sleep, focus, and the upstream shifts that change everything downstream. Book workshops 2 and 3 of the Augmented Human Series via the link in the external links in this episode.

Pete Seligman: You Don’t Have to Start a Business to Own One

What happens when entrepreneurship shifts from starting businesses to acquiring and growing the ones already built? Paddy sits down with Pete Seligman to explore the growing momentum behind entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA) across Australia and New Zealand, and why it is becoming an increasingly compelling path for operators, investors, and aspiring business owners. Together, they unpack the foundations of a successful ETA ecosystem, from community and investor alignment to the relationship between an operator and the business they choose to lead. The conversation explores succession planning, long-term ownership, and the opportunities emerging across both sides of the Tasman. Set against the backdrop of Queenstown, Pete also reflects on why places like this are attracting ambitious people looking to build businesses differently - balancing growth, lifestyle, and meaningful connection.

Powering the Future: Mat Woods & Mike Casey on Leading Electrification in Queenstown

Clare sits down with Mat Woods, Chief Executive of Destination Queenstown, and Mike Casey, CEO of Rewiring Aotearoa and Central Otago's electric cherry orchardist, for a live episode recorded for Electrify Queenstown. Together they unpack what it really means to lead the world on electrification, and why Queenstown is uniquely placed to do it. The conversation moves from the economics of running a country on its own energy, to the stories behind the shift, to the everyday decisions reshaping how New Zealanders live, work, and travel. Mat and Mike explore how a small district at the end of a single power line could become a lighthouse for a much bigger national transformation.

Capturing Place: Anika Willner on Organic Winemaking and Building a Legacy at Coalpit Winery

What does it mean to truly capture a place in a bottle of wine? Clare sits down with Anika Willner, winemaker at Coalpit Vineyard, to explore the philosophy behind organic viticulture and the deep connection between land, people, and wine. From her early years in Ohio to working vintages across Europe, Australia, and the United States, Anika shares the journey that led her to Central Otago, and together they unpack the realities of organic winemaking, from biodiversity and vine health to conservation, climate resilience, and the responsibility of farming for future generations. More than a conversation about wine, it’s an exploration of purpose, presence, and the relationship between people and the land they care for.

What Does Peace Mean to You? Artist and Photographer Stuart Robertson’s Global Search

A conversation shaped by perspective, place, and the pursuit of something deeper. Stuart Robertson, artist, photographer, and the force behind Peace in 10,000 Hands, shares how his work has taken him from Queenstown to some of the most remote and confronting corners of the world. Through experiences in places like Ukraine and Antarctica, Stu reflects on what it means to document humanity, capturing moments of connection, resilience, and quiet strength across vastly different cultures and environments. His work is less about the image itself, and more about the stories, people, and shared emotion behind it. Host Paddy Kluts explores the journey that has shaped Stu’s outlook, from his roots in Queenstown to a life spent moving between extremes, and how those experiences have redefined his understanding of community, creativity, and peace.