
#41 Brendon Pongia
From Unfiltered With Dave Letele by Fanaticals
March 14, 2026 · 35 min · Episode 41
About this episode
Dave Letele interviews Brendon Pongia about his life experiences, identity, and mission to give back.
This week, Dave sits down with former Tall Black and broadcaster Brendon Pongia for a powerful kōrero about identity, resilience, and purpose. From growing up in Greymouth without knowing his father, to representing New Zealand and later helping raise millions for Cure Kids — Brendon shares the moments that shaped him.  He also opens up about reconnecting with his Māori roots, the loss of his brother Quentin Pongia, and why giving back has become his life’s mission. A powerful conversation about grief, gratitude, and using your influence to uplift others. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
People in this episode
Host: Dave Letele
Guest: Brendon Pongia
Topics covered
- identity
- resilience
- purpose
- grief
- gratitude
- giving back
Keywords
- Brendon Pongia
- identity
- resilience
- Cure Kids
- Māori roots
- grief
- gratitude
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Cure Kids
Places: New Zealand, Greymouth
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