#41 Brendon Pongia

#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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