S3.EP2: Jesse James FIRES BACK After "Temu Country Bar" Drama | The Truth Behind Jolene

S3.EP5: How Attention Became The New Currency | Connor Ransley

Connor Ransley joins The Puzzle Factory to break down how attention became one of the most valuable currencies in modern business.Connor shares his journey from dropping out of engineering and working construction, to helping build one of New Zealand’s biggest organic social media agencies at The Attention Seeker before leaving to bet on himself and build his own personal brand business.We get into:• Why most businesses fail at social media• The truth about personal branding• Why raw content beats polished content• The psychology behind viral videos• TikTok, LinkedIn & modern attention• Leaving a stable career to go all in• Confidence, fitness & personal transformation• Why authenticity wins online• Building an audience from scratch• The future of marketing and organic content• Why young men struggle with confidence• Lessons from working with massive brandsThis episode is packed with practical marketing advice, mindset shifts, entrepreneurship lessons, and a real behind the scenes look at how modern content actually works.Powered by NZ Trade Group.⁠https://byransley.com/⁠ [⁠https://byransley.com/⁠]

S3.EP4: NZ’s Most Famous Pie Maker? | Dazzas Cooked

Darren from Ashby Pies and the man behind Darren joins The Puzzle Factory for one of the most Kiwi episodes we’ve done yet.From growing up in West Auckland and working in some of New Zealand and Australia’s top restaurants, to building Ashby Pies into one of Auckland’s most talked about food spots through social media, Darren breaks down the reality of hospitality, content creation, branding, and why pies mean so much to Kiwis.We get into:• The rise of Dazzas Cooked• Building Ashby Pies from scratch during COVID• Why hospitality is brutally hard right now• Social media and business growth• Warriors culture and working with One NZ• Fine dining vs bakery culture• Why NZ bakeries are elite• The economics of pies and food businesses• Growing a personal brand online• Content creation, virality, and modern marketing• Running businesses through lockdowns• Kiwi food nostalgia and pie culture• What actually makes a great pieThis episode is packed with laughs, food chat, business lessons, Warriors yarns, and some genuinely great insight into what it takes to build a modern Kiwi brand.Powered by NZ Trade Group.

S3.EP3: The Infamous Kaiwaka Tradie | Keith of All Trades' First Ever Podcast Interview

Keith Of All Trades has built a massive following by saying what every tradie is thinking. From customer nightmares and cat door controversies to life on the tools, social media, business ownership and the realities of being a Kiwi tradie, Keith joins The Puzzle Factory for his first ever podcast interview.We dive into the stories behind the videos, the state of the trades in New Zealand, dealing with difficult customers, running a business, online fame and plenty of laughs along the way.Whether you're a tradie, business owner, apprentice or just enjoy a good yarn, this is one you won't want to miss.In this episode:• The story behind Keith of All Trades• The famous cat doors• Customer horror stories• Running a trade business in New Zealand• Social media and tradie content creation• The funniest jobs he's ever seen• Industry frustrations and challenges• What tradies really think but won't say• Life on the tools• The future of the tradesPowered by NZ Trade Group.DISCLAIMERThis podcast is intended for entertainment, education and general discussion purposes only.Keith of All Trades is a satirical character and many of the stories, opinions, comments and scenarios discussed throughout this episode are presented for comedic and entertainment purposes.The views, opinions and statements expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Puzzle Factory, NZ Trade Group, its employees, sponsors, partners or affiliates.Nothing discussed in this episode should be considered professional, legal, financial, business or trade advice. Viewers should seek appropriate professional advice relevant to their own circumstances.All content is provided in good humour and should be interpreted in the context of entertainment and open conversation.https://www.instagram.com/keith_of_all_trades/ [https://www.instagram.com/keith_of_all_trades/]

S3.EP2: Jesse James FIRES BACK After "Temu Country Bar" Drama | The Truth Behind Jolene

Country bars, tradie life, social media, and controversy... Jesse James jumps into The Puzzle Factory and doesn’t hold back. We talk the rise of Jolene, why authenticity matters, trades vs university, the Trade Tour, and the comments that sparked headlines after the "Temu Country Bar" controversy. Plus near death stories, tradie yarns, and Jesse’s advice for young apprentices.What's inside:• Why Jesse built Jolene and what makes it different• Trade Tour and helping young Kiwis into the trades• Tradie stories that went badly wrong• Country culture, social media and authenticity• "Temu Country Bar" controversy explained• Quickfire "This or That" questions• Advice for young tradiesPowered by NZ Trade GroupNot financial advice. Just real conversations.

S3.EP1: From Unqualified Mechanic to Millionaire in his 30's - Mikey Smith

Mikey Smith from Guardian Smith joins The Puzzle Factory for one of the realest conversations we’ve had yet. From growing up around mechanics and rental cars to building a finance business with nearly 50 staff, Mikey breaks down the brutal realities of business, trades, property investing, recession fears, and what’s really happening in New Zealand right now. We get into: • Why trades have been undervalued for decades • The harsh truth about starting your own business • NZ’s property market and whether housing is still worth investing in • Recession fears and the current economy • War, oil prices, inflation and what it means for Kiwis • Why most people fail in business • Customer service lessons from dealing with chaos • The mental pressure of growing a company • Why “working on the business” changes everything • Townhouses, regulation and the future of NZ housing • Why there’s always opportunity somewhere This one goes deep into entrepreneurship, mindset, financial pressure, trades, politics, and modern New Zealand culture. Powered by NZ Trade Group.