Between Two Beers Podcast: Hosts, Guests & Irish Podcasts Compared

You have probably scrolled past a podcast with two mates chatting over beers and wondered what makes theirs worth 90 minutes of your time. The Between Two Beers podcast, hosted by Steve and Seamus from Hamilton, New Zealand, has turned that casual format into a show with more than four million downloads and a reputation for landing guests from All Blacks to Olympians, pulling together the show’s details, comparing it with top Irish podcasts, and answering the questions Irish listeners are asking most.

Hosts: Steve and Seamus ·
Episode count: Hundreds ·
Facebook followers: 95,000+ ·
Platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart

Six key facts about the show, drawn from the official pages and industry coverage, give a quick orientation.

Who hosts between two beers?

The Between Two Beers podcast is hosted by Steven Holloway and Seamus Marten, two best mates from Hamilton, New Zealand, who turned a hobby into a dream, according to the official show website (podcast’s own site). The show’s Apple Podcasts description (podcast directory) says they like “good questions and good answers.”

Who created Between Two Beers?

• While the hosts are the faces of the show, the exact creator is not publicly documented. The official site and media coverage refer to Steve and Seamus as the founders, but no single “creator” credit is listed. The podcast is independently produced by the hosts themselves, as stated on Apple Podcasts.

The pattern: The show’s origin story is deliberately understated — two friends recording in a garage — which aligns with its authentic, low-key brand.

What kind of guests does between two beers have?

The show’s guest list reads like a who’s who of New Zealand public life. Apple Podcasts highlights Marc Ellis, Jeremy Wells, Paddy Gower, Wayne Smith, Morgan Penn, and Dame Lisa Carrington. The official episodes page (podcast’s episode archive) lists Steven Adams, Stacey Morrison, Dai Henwood, Kieran Read, Ruben Miller, and Melie Kerr. A 2025 Now To Love NZ (lifestyle publisher) article says the show began with football and local sporting figures in Steve’s garage, then broadened to topics beyond sport.

Notable guests include Marc Ellis, Jeremy Wells, Paddy Gower, Wayne Smith, Morgan Penn

• These names appear on the Apple Podcasts description as representative of the show’s range.
• Other guests from Rephonic (podcast data aggregator) include Al Brown, Mark Stafford, Jared Savage, Simon Barnett, Viv Conway, Jo Cummins, Dr. Timoti Te Moke, and Jay Reeve.

Why this matters: The breadth of guests — from rugby legends to sexologists — shows the show’s pivot from a niche sports chat to a general-interest interview platform, which likely drives its 150,000 monthly listens (Podnews).

What are the top 10 podcasts in Ireland?

Irish listeners have a strong appetite for homegrown audio. While exact rankings shift, several shows consistently appear in recommendations from RTÉ and LetsLearnIrish. Below is a snapshot of notable Irish podcasts alongside Between Two Beers and the world’s most listened show.

Four podcasts, one snapshot: each serves a different audience, but all rely on strong host chemistry and consistent production.

The trade-off: Between Two Beers remains New Zealand-focused, while Irish listeners seeking local content will find stronger cultural resonance with shows like Beo Ar Éigean or RTÉ’s catalog. For sheer global reach, Joe Rogan dominates.

What are the top 5 most listened to podcasts in Ireland?

• RTÉ (Irish public broadcaster) regularly highlights shows like The Bookshelf, Crime World, and Second Captains.
• LetsLearnIrish recommends Beo Ar Éigean for its banter and Gaeilge.
• Global rankings from Podnews show that The Joe Rogan Experience consistently tops charts worldwide.

What are RTE’s most popular podcasts?

• RTÉ’s culture section lists The Bookshelf, Crime World, Second Captains, and Ray D’Arcy as standout shows (RTÉ).

What are the best free podcasts in Ireland?

• Most Irish podcasts, including those from RTÉ, are free on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
• RTÉ curates a list of “10 more Irish podcasts you need to hear,” all free.

What are some of the best podcasts to listen to in Ireland?

• For Irish listeners, recommendations include Beo Ar Éigean (Irish-language comedy), The Bookshelf (literary), Crime World (true crime), and Second Captains (sports) (RTÉ, LetsLearnIrish).
• Between Two Beers offers a New Zealand alternative for those interested in international content.

What are the best new podcasts coming out in 2026 in Ireland?

• No specific 2026 Irish launches are documented in the research, but RTÉ’s ongoing culture coverage suggests a vibrant pipeline (RTÉ).

What this means: Irish listeners are spoiled for choice with free, high-quality shows. Between Two Beers is a worthy outlier — a New Zealand success story that demonstrates how a two-person team can scale without losing its garage-podcast authenticity.

What are the best free podcasts in Ireland?

Free podcasts dominate the Irish market. Shows like Beo Ar Éigean and The Bookshelf are available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts without any paywall. RTÉ also publishes all its original podcasts for free via the RTÉ Player and major aggregators.

What are the best podcasts in Ireland in 2026?

• Based on RTÉ’s 2026 recommendations, the best Irish podcasts include The Bookshelf, Crime World, Second Captains, and Beo Ar Éigean.

The catch: “Best” depends on taste — Between Two Beers is excellent for long-form interviews, but Irish listeners may prefer local accents and topics.

Which is World No. 1 podcast?

The Joe Rogan Experience is widely considered the world’s most listened podcast, with over 2,000 episodes and exclusive distribution on Spotify. Podnews notes that global rankings consistently place Rogan at the top, while RTÉ and other outlets reference its dominance when discussing the podcast landscape.

What are the top 50 podcasts right now?

• Exact lists change weekly, but major platforms like Spotify and Apple publish dynamic charts. Industry sources like Podnews track trends.
• Between Two Beers does not appear in global top 50 lists, but it ranks among New Zealand’s most popular shows.

Why this matters: For Irish listeners, the world’s number one podcast is an English-language behemoth. Between Two Beers offers a more intimate, country-specific alternative — but it won’t replace Rogan for sheer volume.

“Good questions. Great guests. Few beers.”

— Between Two Beers Podcast description, Apple Podcasts

The Apple Podcasts description also names Marc Ellis, Jeremy Wells, Paddy Gower, Wayne Smith, Morgan Penn, and Olympian guests as representative of the show’s range (Apple Podcasts (podcast directory)).

Between Two Beers has carved a distinct niche in New Zealand podcasting by staying true to its garage-origin ethos while scaling to a national audience. For Irish listeners, the show offers a window into Kiwi culture that few other podcasts provide. But the real takeaway is a broader one: the podcast market is increasingly localised, and the best shows — whether from Hamilton or Dublin — win by being unapologetically themselves. For an Irish listener deciding between a global giant like Joe Rogan and a homegrown show, the choice is clear: pick the one that feels like a conversation with a mate, not a broadcast.

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