From a tough up bringing, Reon Nolan, was a career criminal who from a young age was in an out of young offender institutions. By the age of eighteen he was doing hard time in Christchurch's Men's prison for robbery. In his mid twenties after serving time and being out on parole he decided he wanted to lead a better life. With the help of a few people and a chance introduction to the sport of cycling he managed to turned his life around. This is his inspiring story.

Mark Watson on Sport

Sports Untold Stories / Reon Nolan

At 18 years of age Bryall McPherson was a young tennis prodigy bound for the American Collegiate system when suddenly she broke her arm while playing tennis. After being rushed to hospital she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bone cancer which meant she would either have to have her arm amputated or die. This is her story, and how she got through the hardship and devastation to take up swimming and become one of New Zealand's leading Para-Olympians. This the most emotional interview I have ever done.

Sports Untold Stories / Bryall McPherson

In this interview Mark sits down and talks with Jan McLaren, younger sister of iconic racing car driver Bruce McLaren. Jan looks back on their childhood growing up in Auckland, his early years of building and racing cars on the black sands of Muriwai beach through to his progression into Formula 1. Jan also reveals the day her and her parents were told of Bruce's tragic death at the young age of 32 while testing his latest car at the Goodwood Circuit in the UK in 1970. A compelling listen!

Sports Untold Stories / Jan McLaren

A stunning interview with one of New Zealand's most underrated athletes. Phillip Rush is the current world record holder for the triple (28 hr 21 mins) and double crossing(16 hr 10 min) of the English Channel. He has swum the English Channel ten times and the Cook Straight eight times. Mark and Phillip discuss him growing up in Dunedin, swimming at St Clair Beach and being coached by legendary Duncan Laing. You will hear about Phillip racing professionally around the world in the 1980's including marathon distance swims in North Americas great lakes, swimming the polluted waters of Naples in Italy to telling the story of him putting his hand through a floating dead donkey while racing down the Nile in Egypt. The interview discusses his world record crossings of the English Channel and the mental fortitude required.

Sports Untold Stories / Phillip Rush

Mark Watson spent ten years on nationwide radio in New Zealand, establishing himself as one the most opinionated and polarizing figures in sports media, a title and reputation he was not always comfortable with. He has been a commentator at three Olympic Games and his knowledge of sport across the board is indisputable. His newly launched Podcast series is a show case of some his best interviews from his time on radio as well as a new body of work that will inspire, entertain and stir the emotions. He is aim is to bring interviews and opinion based shows that are free from the conventions of radio with complete creative freedom.

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Mark Watson on Sport

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