I Love Ugly Audio Show

To say thank you for the massive year that was 2022, we have recorded a bonus ‘End of Year Wrap Up' Podcast — in this Episode, our Brand Manager sits down with our Creative Director and runs through the high's and lows of 2022, both professionally and personally.

Welcome back to the I Love Ugly Audio Show. In this episode, our creative director Valentin Ozich sits down with Tom Gould — an award winning director and photographer from New Zealand. Tom has worked with clients such as Ralph Lauren, Action Bronson, Travis Scott, and Nike (just to name a few). The discussion goes both deep and wide on this episode; from how to get your break in a competitive industry, how to avoid creative burnout, and the power of goal setting & visualisation. We have been wanting to get Tom on the podcast for a while, and this marks our first guest on the ILU Audio Show in over 2 years. Enjoy the episode.

Welcome back to the I Love Ugly Audio Show. In this episode, we do it a little bit differently — our creative director, Valentin Ozich, sits down with Mike & Mitzi Payne, the hosts of The @wavessocial Podcast, to discuss his journey in business, and how you can leverage your Mindset to achieve Success in Business.

This is for the artists who see their clothing as an extension of their canvas. For the creative who dares to stand out from the crowd. For the designer who strives to make a statement. For the musicians whose style influences their melodies. This is for the customer that defies the conventional. For the budding entrepreneur who wants to make their dent in the world or for the person who simply wants to become a little better every day. For all those who aspire to inspire, I've written this for you.

It's been a while since we've released a podcast, and demand for the return of The ILU Audio Show has been overwhelming. In this episode, our founder Valentin Ozich sits down and gives some context as to where we've been for the last year and a half. Valentin answers a range of great questions from some of our most loyal fans from our ‘AMA' the other day on Instagram. We go deep in this episode (as we usually do) and we know there is some real authentic value for others seeking to grow and inspire within their own personal & professional journeys. It's good to be back. 

Welcome to the I Love Ugly Audio Show. My names Valentin Ozich, Creative Director and Founder of I Love Ugly. On this episode, we do it a little bit differently. This time I'm getting interviewed for The Ice Project Podcast hosted by Business Owner Issac John. For those who aren’t familiar with my personal story or those who want to learn more about the behind the scenes at I Love Ugly, mindset and marketing this one is for you. I dive deep and chat about design, trends, business models and what success really looks like. This episode packs punch. Enjoy.

It’s been a while since we last released an episode. But we’re happy to announce we’re back to giving you guys regular content to tune in to​. With over 50,000 episode downloads, its humbling to know that our fans are finding huge value in our podcast.On this episode, ​our founder V,​ had the opportunity to sit down with a good friend of ours ​Pastor ​John Cameron (@johncameron). John and his wife Gillian are the founders and lead pastors of the well respected Arise Church based in New Zealand. Through their, leadership ARISE has grown from a group of 7 people in a small studio to a church of thousands in many locations around the country. Known for his dynamic preaching gift, John delivers messages that resonate in hearts and challenge mindsets.Like the other interviews, V dives deep, discussing Johns​ backstory, how he was able to grow his church to be where it is today, what being a leader means to him​, how people can find their true passion in life, as well goal setting, morning routines, nutrition and much more.This episode is for anyone who needs a boost in their life right now​, whether you're a business owner, entrepreneur, aspiring leader or athlete. Those who are trying to find their true calling, those who are wanting to become a better version of themselves or those who just need a little bit of inspiration​ we recommend listening to this​. We hope you enjoy it just as much as we did recording it. Enjoy.

Welcome to the I Love Ugly Audio Show my names Valentin Ozich, Creative Director and Founder of I Love Ugly. During lockdown, we had the opportunity to sit down with a friend of ours, New Zealand All Blacks star, Beauden Barrett. Barrett made his All Blacks Test debut in 2012 and since then has gone on to feature in two Rugby World Cups as well as winning back to back World Rugby Player of the year Awards in 2016 and 2017.  In this episode we dive into the mindset and attributes behind his success, why he decided to pursue rugby over university, the importance of goal setting, pre game routines and what his plans are for life after rugby. This episode is not only for athletes but anyone looking to tap into their full potential in any area of your life. We hope you enjoy it just as much as we did recording it. Enjoy the episode.

An audio version of a letter from our founder Valentin Ozich in light of the current global situation.P.S. Our online store will remain operational and running as per normal. We are also offering free express shipping to all customers worldwide.Our Newmarket and Wellington flagship stores will also remain open until further notice.Stay positive. Stay healthy. Stay safe.

Welcome to the I Love Ugly Audio Show my names Valentin Ozich, Creative Director and Founder of I Love Ugly. On this episode, we sit down with Marlon Gerbes, member of New Zealand’s most-loved band Six60. Since the formation of the 5 piece back in 2011 till now, Six60 has cultivated an unprecedented following which has arguably crowned them as New Zealand’s most successful band. From packing out a 50,000 capacity stadium two years running to selling over 1 million singles in New Zealand alone. They’ve also scored a total of five NZ Music Awards including Best Group in 2018 and their sophomore album has spent an unbelievable 230 weeks in the NZ Top 40 Charts.Hot off a Europe, Australia and NZ tour we were lucky to be able to catch up with Marlon and dive deep into a number of topics. We discuss where he’s at now after coming off an intense few months touring, an inside look behind the bands struggles, success and future goals moving forward. We chat about health, morning routines and other habits that keeps him focused, creative and inspired. Lastly, Marlon gives his personal advice for all aspiring artists looking to make their stamp on the industry. This episode is for anyone looking to get an inside perspective of what takes to be successful in any fields. We hope you enjoy it just as much as we did recording it. Enjoy the episode.  

Here’s a little story about popular thinking from our Creative Director and Founder, Valentin Ozich...

Ben Warren Welcome to the I Love Ugly Audio Show my names Valentin Ozich, Creative Director and Founder of I Love Ugly. On this episode we sit down with one of New Zealand’s leading nutrition and holistic health experts, Ben Warren. Ben founded BePure over 10 years ago, providing unique nutritional programmes. He also works closely with Olympic athletes, leading New Zealand sports teams and individuals on their nutrition and lifestyle interventions to improve their performance. Ben has made it his mission to build a new future of health by empowering and educating New Zealanders on the importance of nutrition and his work is making people sit up and listen. Over 75,000 people have seen Ben speak at seminars, and he’s presented at Tedx on health and longevity in the modern world. This episode is one you will not want to skip. We dive into how to manage and deal with high-level stress, why we need to be more mindful of the foods that we are fueling our bodies and many more topics which will help you improve your own health and well being and ultimately lead you to function at a higher level in your day to day life. Enjoy the episode.

Welcome to the I Love Ugly Audio Show my names Valentin Ozich, Creative Director and Founder of I Love Ugly. On this episode we sit down with New Zealand Entrepreneur Robett Hollis. For those that are unfamiliar with Robett’s background, he is an Ex-Professional National Champion Snowboarder, a Multi-Exit Entrepreneur, Author, FORTUNE 100 Content Consultant, Global Speaker, and was named as one of the Top 3 Most Influential New Zealanders on LinkedIn. After exiting his portfolio of companies, Robett’s new mission is to inspire more people to say #YesToSuccess and help destroy New Zealand’s Tall Poppy Syndrome. In 2018 he helped launch a 50 million dollar initiative to help more growing companies win in business. In this episode, we dive deep and discuss how and why he got into business, what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur, why failure is an important learning tool, and a few tips, tricks and routines that Robett uses that could help you on your path to success. Like all my guests, I like to go deep and extract as much value as I can, and this episode is no different. There’s some golden nuggets in here that I’m sure you can translate to using in your own lives. Enjoy the episode.

Welcome to the I Love Ugly Audio Show my names Valentin Ozich Creative Director and Founder of I Love Ugly. It's been a little while since we've put out any articles or podcasts and there's a reason for it: We just didn't feel like it. It's a shit reason but it's the truth. Unfortunately, using our feelings as the ultimate measure for whether or not we should do something, isn't a wise move. If we obeyed every feeling we've ever had, we'd be in a pretty terrible state. Yes, feelings are useful as warning signs and indicators that help guide us through life. But the key is to listen and observe them, but not necessarily obey them every time they speak. This podcast explores the ups and downs of feelings and why you cannot always rely on them. It is only an 18 minute listen, so get stuck in or save it for later and, when you're done, jump in the comments/reviews and let us know your thoughts. Enjoy the episode.

On this episode, our Digital Director Will Munro and Creative Director/Founder Valentin Ozich dive into an in-depth discussion around the importance of goal setting for the start of the New Year and how to kick start your 2020 off in the right direction. They cover topics ranging from how to set your goals, their own daily morning routines, the power of habits, and how to harness and control your thoughts. We know that setting goals big or small, can be daunting and unfamiliar to a lot of people, so we wanted to record this discussion in the hopes that it would give you some clarity around the importance of it and how to make a start, and also give you an inside look into our own goals, routines and habits. We want to help you identify and define what your ‘why’ is for 2020. Because the stronger your ‘why’ the easier your ‘how’ becomes. Now grab some paper and a get pen because you’re going to need it for this one. Enjoy the episode.

Welcome to the I Love Ugly Audio Show my names Valentin Ozich Creative Director and Founder of I Love Ugly.On this episode, we sit down with Auckland based filmmaker, Fraser Grut. For those that are unfamiliar with Frasers work, he runs a movement called '10,000 Dreams', where every single day for 10,000 days (27 years), he films a different person answering the question - "What’s your dream?". He began this project in 2016 and will finish it in 2044 at age 50. His goal, is to build a culture around dreams that inspires people to pursue them. Frasers life mission is one of the most ambitious and inspiring projects we have come across.In this episode we go into the backstory about why he started this project, how he's managed to film the dreams of high profile celebrities like Mark Cuban, Chris Hadfield and many more, and lastly the importance of why everyone needs to dream big and to pursue it. This episode is sure to help inspire your new year ambitious.Enjoy.

To our loyal followers,2019 was one hell of a year. We released 12 collections. Over 300 different garments. 19 podcast episodes. 8 articles on how to be a better person. Over 500 individual Instagram posts. A 10th-anniversary collection. An art collection. A personal development art print collection. Over 45 videos. And serviced 1000s of different people.This business is nonstop. The creative expectation and innovation required to stay afloat is relentless. To know people still have love for what we do 10 years after starting this brand from our founder’s bedroom is humbling. It inspires us to keep on doing what we are doing, but on the same token, it forces us to keep raising the bar. Every day. April 2017 this thing nearly folded. December 2019 we are stronger than ever.We aim to be 1% better every single day because we know that’s the only way moving forward.Thank you for your support this year. Thank you for spending your hard-earned money with us. For trusting us. For telling other people about us. For consuming our content. We know there are a million other options out there. It means the world to us. Have a great Christmas and a safe new year and see you all in 2020.From the team at I Love Ugly.

A lot of people asked for it, so we did it. In this episode, our digital director Will goes deep with our Creative Director V on the inner workings of how our clothing collections are put together.From the budgets and range planning all the way to marketing. This gives you an insight into the depths we go to put each garment together, which you probably weren't aware of. From how we chose the fabrics, how we pick the trends, how we decide which garments to cut in the sampling stage, and how we bring the clothes to market.For all those in the industry or those that are interested in the behind the scenes of how a fashion brand works, you will find a lot of value and enjoyment in this episode. Enjoy. 

This episode is designed for those that are having a shitty day. We all have them, but unfortunately, not all of us have the tools and tactics to get out of them. This is based off an article I wrote a few weeks back which got some great feedback. I was having a really tough week and an especially bad day when I wrote this, which makes it that much more real. I would highly recommend doing the tasks to get the most out of it.Heres the link to the article: https://www.iloveugly.co.nz/blogs/articles/shit-day

On this episode I sit down with motivational speaker and personal development specialist, Dr Paul Wood. Dr Paul Woods story is one of the most interesting I have come across in a while. At just 18 years old​​, Paul went to prison and his life was off the rails. By his release in 2006, he had attained an undergraduate degree in psychology and philosophy, a master’s degree in psychology, and was two years into his Ph.D. Paul uses his journey to illustrate the process of change and how we can have lives of great meaning and purpose despite the circumstances and despite the environment.He’s now an expert in helping people overcome their own barriers and become the best version of themselves and recently released his book which I highly recommend called: How To Escape From Prison.In this episode Paul gives us advice on managing unpleasant emotional thoughts, the power of creating habits, and how it’s never too late to redirect yourself in life. Like all my guests, I like to go deep and extract as much value as I can, and this episode is no different. There’s some golden nuggets in here, I also ask him some questions that would make some of you uneasy. Enjoy.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drpaulwood/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drpaulwood/Website: https://paulwood.com/

On this episode we sit down with entrepreneur Nathan Chan, the CEO of global media and education company, Foundr. We discuss why facing adversity is a key stepping stone to success, the importance of finding the right mentors, and what he learnt from talking to Sir Richard Branson, Tony Robbins and many other entrepreneurs. Enjoy.

In this episode, I’m not mucking around. I want to go deep into the guts of why it’s more important to work harder on yourself than you do on your job. I’m going to offer ten of the most valuable lessons I have learnt in my journey, which I applied to my own life, to help you go to the next level.Because an upgrade in your mindset will undoubtedly give you an upgrade in your pay cheque​, your job​, your performance and ​your ​quality of life. I know I’m not anything special, but I’ve gone through things that seemed near impossible at the time, and these lessons helped me get through them. Enjoy.

On this episode we sit down with friend of the brand, kiwi-international DJ, Quix. We discuss why failing university was the best thing that ever happened to him, proving to his dad that passion can pay the bills, the role faith played in his life and figuring out how to find/pursue your passion. Enjoy. NOTE: The quality of the first 8 minutes isn't up to our usual standard due to technical difficulties during production. After the 8 minute mark the audio quality improves.

On this episode I talk about procrastination, how to overcome it and why it’s the killer of all dreams and productivity. It’s a short and sharp episode designed to give you that necessary pick up in times of need which we all need from time to time. Enjoy.

On this episode, we decided to do things a little differently. I sit down with our Digital Director, Will Munro who interviews me on this episode. He asks me about ten monumental stories that have happened to the brand over the last ten years, some you may have heard before, some not. These are the most embarrassing, entertaining, uplifting and challenging times over the last ten years. Whether or not you are new to the brand - you will find this entertaining and educating. There’s a few questions where I go deep and honest which you can pluck a few gems from to apply to your business and life.Also - we want to give our podcast audience a little gift to thank you for the support - use the code 'PODCAST' at the checkout to get 10% off your order including the ten-year collection. This is only valid for you guys, the listener. Enjoy the episode.

On this episode, we sit down with one of the most well-respected figures in world rugby, Sir Graham Henry.For those who don’t know him, he is credited with rebuilding the All Blacks legacy into what it is today and is regarded as one of the most successful sports coaches in history. Now, for those that aren't interested in rugby, I know what you're thinking, that you don't want to listen to us talk about rugby for an hour. Neither did I, so I took a completely different angle to avoid focusing rugby. We lift the hood on how he managed to build one of the greatest teams in sporting history, how and why he wanted to be the Greatest of all time, why setting audacious goals is so essential and why mental health has become so prevalent in today's society. This episode is a goldmine of valuable information for sports fans, leaders, entrepreneurs or anybody wanting to build an influential culture or make something of themselves. It kicks in 5 minutes through and will take you on a ride. Enjoy.

Welcome to the I Love Ugly Audio Show my names Valentin Ozich Creative Director and Founder of I Love Ugly. In this episode I’m gonna give you a step by step guide on how to make a million dollars selling clothes. I just wanna let you know that this episode isn’t strictly aimed at fashion people but any other entrepreneur or business owner, I think a lot of these rules are applicable to what you are doing. Enjoy

Welcome to the I Love Ugly Audio Show I’m Valentin Ozich Creative Director and Founder of I Love Ugly. On this episode we sit down with New Zealand based UFC fighter, Dan Hooker (aka The Hangman). We discuss why he ended up getting into the MMA scene, the highs and lows he experiences in between fights, the intense training regimes and how he zones in on fight day. Enjoy.

On this episode we sit down with close friend and ambassador of ILU, hip-hop artist, Chester Watson. We discuss the importance of goal setting, the role ballet played in his life, how he breaks through a creative block and why experimenting with sleep and fasting improves his ability to make quality music. Enjoy.

A while back we posted a graph on Instagram showing the different stages of personal growth. We were blown away at how well the post did and how much it was shared. We were also intrigued to see where people saw themselves. Based on the response, we thought it would be appropriate to dive a little deeper by writing an essay around the importance of not staying comfortable. What you’ll be hearing in this episode is an audio version of that essay. Enjoy.

For this episode we decided to release a talk V did late in 2017 in front of a few thousand people at a design conference called Semi Permanent. This was one of the first public speaking gigs he had ever done, so it might sound a bit rusty. This talk is honest, raw, unpolished and authentic. He dabbles on his beginnings, a few tips about branding and marketing, and what it means to go against the grain and make something of yourself. We hope you get something from it. Enjoy

On this episode we sit down with the youngest MP in Parliament, the Green politician, Chlöe Swarbrick. We discuss her previous struggles and successes as a business owner, why the education system failed her at high school, and how she’s not letting age hold her back from taking on the big guns in New Zealand politics. Enjoy

On this episode we sit down with Karen Walker who has been a huge mentor of mine since the inception of the I Love Ugly. She has created arguably the most successful female fashion brand in the southern hemisphere. We discussed how she stays in peak performance, the importance of trusting your gut and dealing with failure. Enjoy

On this episode we sit down with long time friend of ours, New York based hip hop artist, Oddisee. We discuss his recent world tour, the role religion plays in his life and what it takes to become an artist in the world we live in today. Enjoy.

As the first official episode of The I Love Ugly Audio Show, we thought it would be appropriate to give you a deep history lesson on the brand. Our Creative Director and Founder, Valentin Ozich, sits down with our Digital Director Will, who digs deep asking V questions about I Love Ugly's humble beginnings, the biggest highlights the brand has experienced, the biggest challenges learnt along the way, as well as a bunch of lessons and stories we think you will find interesting. Enjoy.