Dr. Ben O'Keeffe is one of the best rugby referees in the world—and he's also a fully qualified doctor, specializing in ophthalmology.

This episode first dropped in 2023, shortly after Ben made headlines for the intense backlash (including death threats) he received after officiating the Super Rugby Final between the Crusaders and the Chiefs. Since the Super Rugby 2025 final is again between these two fierce rivals, I thought I'd re-release the episode ICYMI the first time

round.

In this conversation, we unpack Ben’s unique double life as a top-level rugby referee and an eye surgeon.

We talk about his journey through medicine, his passion for the game, and how he deals with pressure, criticism, and the spotlight that comes with both careers.

I originally invited Ben on the podcast after his honest Instagram post went viral—calling out some of the horrific messages he received post-match. But beyond the drama, he's just a bloody inspiring Kiwi, doing incredible things with humility and focus.

If you missed this episode the first time around, now’s the perfect time to catch up.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Bens Dual Career

02:55 The Journey Through Medicine

05:48 Transitioning from Medicine to Refereeing

09:10 Balancing Rugby and Medicine

12:00 The Life of a Professional Referee

14:52 Understanding the Game and Its Rules

18:00 Decision Making Under Pressure

20:52 The Impact of Refereeing Decisions

23:56 The Role of a Referee in the Game

27:09 Refereeing as a Career Choice

30:00 Training and Preparation for Referees

33:01 The Importance of Experience in Refereeing

36:16 Understanding Referee-Player Dynamics

39:25 Accountability in Refereeing

43:38 Review Processes and Continuous Improvement

49:14 The Impact of Social Media on Referees

54:57 Navigating Public Criticism and Mental Health

01:01:01 The Role of Support and Community in Refereeing

01:10:44 Referee Relationships with Players

01:14:36 The Dynamics of Refereeing

01:16:20 Nervousness and Preparation Before Games

01:19:34 Emotional Challenges and Accountability

01:22:21 Learning from Mistakes and Apologies

01:23:49 Controversial Decisions and Their Impact

01:24:51 Weird Rules and Laws in Rugby

01:26:36 The Importance of the Whistle

01:28:56 Referee Milestones and Achievements

01:30:59 World Cup Aspirations and Team Dynamics

01:33:45 Media Attention and Public Perception

01:36:29 The Future of Refereeing and Safety Concerns

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In 2011, 22 year old Troy Hall was young, fit, and working hard to turn his life around after years of addiction and violence.

Then, on a rainy day in Tauranga, everything changed: A freak accident involving overhead power lines left him clinically dead, twice.

What followed was months in hospital, countless surgeries, extreme burns, the loss of body parts, and a long road through depression, trauma, and recovery.

In this emotional and brutally honest chat, Troy opens up about his old life in gang culture, his near-death experience, and the grueling mental and physical recovery that followed.

He talks candidly about suicidal thoughts, fatherhood, body image, self-worth, and how it’s taken him over a decade to finally feel proud of himself.

I feel like the words ‘raw’ and ‘powerful’ get a bit overused in the podcast space these days. But this conversation is most definitely those things.

Troy's story is one of resilience, perspective, healing, and the power of surrounding yourself with the right people.

If you’ve ever struggled with feeling stuck, hopeless, or not good enough—this episode is for you.

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Dillon Boucher is one of New Zealand’s most decorated basketballers. In this wide-ranging conversation he opens up about everything: from being cut from the Olympic team and his relationship with Steven Adams, to his championship runs with the Breakers and being labelled a thug for how he played.

He also shares personal struggles around imposter syndrome, family sacrifices, leadership, and transitioning from player to executive in the sport he loves.

Whether you know him for his stare-downs on court or his legacy off it—this is the real Dylan Boucher.

🔗 Topics include:

• 2002 Tall Blacks World Champs run
• Life as a Breakers icon (and getting his jersey retired)
• Supporting Steven Adams’ journey
• His most emotional career moment
• Leadership, legacy, and life after the final whistle

Dillon is a guy who has devoted his entire life to NZ basketball so this was a huge honour to sit with him and pick his brains for a long form conversation like this. I loved the chat and I hope you do too.

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**The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to the host and guests and may not reflect the views of the show sponsors**

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