Grey Areas with Petra Bagust

Today I’m joined by three extraordinary and radically different women who consider each other family. Each in a different decade of life – their 50s, 60s, and 70s – Jackie Clarke, Tina Cross, and Suzanne Lynch have performed together for the past two decades as The Lady Killers, and they’re still going strong.

Fresh off their DIVAS! tour to sold out venues around New Zealand, we sit down to discuss music, ageing, and friendship. The stories these wāhine toa share are filled with hard-won wisdom and riotous laughter that beckons us to grab hold of every stage of life with curiosity, compassion and camaraderie whether we vote the same way or not. 

Tune in as we tackle menopause, breaking down stereotypes, the perpetual pressure to present perfectly (trying saying that fast), and the vital importance of supporting one another through it all!

Song credit: Korimako, Performed by Aro, Written by Emily Looker and Charles Looker and published by Songbroker.

 

In this episode, I sit down with psychologist, author, and menopause researcher Dr Hillary McBride to explore what it means to truly come home to our bodies - to treat them like a best friend. Hillary’s work spans critical topics like trauma, eating disorders, and women's health, with a particular focus on menopause as a transformative experience.

Through her books, The Wisdom of Your Body and Practices for Embodied Living, Hillary advocates for a reconnection with our bodies, inviting us to listen to, honour, and celebrate our physical selves.

Using Hillary’s vivid metaphor of our body as a home, we discuss the absurdity of ‘living on the front lawn’ and basing our worth on this external perspective. She encourages us to find our way back inside the home and make the most of the rich experiences to be found within.

Hillary champions supportive environments where women can share their experiences free from judgement - her research demonstrates the positive and practical impact of women talking about menopause with each other… this information is too good not to share - come and sit with this wise soul who loves helping women find safety and solace in our very own bodies!

Song credit: Korimako, Performed by Aro, Written by Emily Looker and Charles Looker and published by Songbroker.

Buckle in for an uplifting conversation filled with laughter and wisdom! Petra Bagust is the host of popular rova podcasts Grey Areas and Sunday Sanctuary, a radio personality and TV presenter, a media chaplain, mum to three young people and all-round wonderful wāhine. 

In this episode, Petra shares candidly how she has approached the highs and lows of motherhood with grace for herself, and the many things she’s learned along the way. With energy, wit and wisdom, she delves into the richness that can be found in relationships, the magic of her personal te reo journey, and the freedom that comes with tuning into what we place our value in, particularly as we age. 

A small disclaimer, this episode contains a sprinkle of mild swearing—nothing that would make your grandma faint, but maybe cover the kids’ ears if they’re around. 

Parents We’ve Met is brought to you by Parenting Place – a charity with a heart for New Zealand families. Explore our self-guided online courses and hundreds of free parenting articles and ideas HERE. 

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The tide is rising toward Megan’s 50th birthday, and we surf the currents of childhood memories to uncover how mermaids, like the best stories, delight us with their symbolic depth.

We reflect on my relationship with my mother, navigating the murky waters between closeness and independence. Megan shares how her mother transformed into an exuberant grandmother, becoming a lighthouse guiding her toward metamorphosis despite her own unfulfilled dreams.

We wade into the depths of parenting and self-love, exploring the complexities of aging amid impossible societal expectations. This episode rides the wave of generational bonds that, while often frustrating, anchor us.

As our conversation ebbs and flows through themes of self-acceptance and re-enchantment, we question conventional metrics of success and the power of ‘voice’ in shaping our narratives. Splashing through literature and art, we celebrate the significance of community and meaningful connections, steering us toward a more magical sense of purpose.

Join us as we surf these enchanting waves together!

Song Credit: Korimako, performed by Aro, written by Emily Looker and Charles Looker, published by Songbroker.

There were three things Susie Ferguson was never going to do; climb Mt Everest, run a marathon or write a book.

However a serendipitous podcast interview with my good friend Frank nudged her to capture her experiences as a war correspondent, radio journalist and woman - the result is "Bloody Minded." 

Susie shares her experiences of being bullied and even publicly shamed by a teacher while navigating the tricky dynamics of an all-girls school. 

Her candid reflections on enduring undiagnosed endometriosis while reporting from Iraq, display her resilience and humour. 

From her love story with husband Lee, to the intense bonds formed in war zones,and the challenges of transitioning into motherhood, Susie’s book is moving and memorable.

Join us for a heartfelt exploration of adaptability, determination, and the bonds that define our lives.

Song credit: Korimako, Performed by Aro, Written by Emily Looker and Charles Looker and published by Songbroker.

I sit down with the delightful Nici Wickes, a beloved cookbook author with a talent for making culinary adventures accessible and joyful, as she shares her wisdom on no-fuss cooking, building confidence in and out of the kitchen, and her latest book ‘More from A Quiet Kitchen.’

We tackle body image and health, confronting societal expectations, and shifting our focus from our appearance to our wellbeing along the journey to ageing with self-acceptance.

Nici also gets real about prioritising mental health as we explore themes of solitude, self-expression, and the serenity found in cooking for oneself. 

Whether it's in the kitchen, navigating boundaries, or finding peace in the chaos, this conversation is a heartfelt invitation to celebrate ourselves and savour some of life’s simplest pleasures.

Song credit: Korimako, Performed by Aro, Written by Emily Looker and Charles Looker and published by Songbroker.

Join us for the first episode of Grey Areas Season 6 as we sit down with award-winning journalist, doco-maker and loveable rogue Patrick Gower to discuss his unfiltered memoir, This Is the F#$%ing News.

In this candid conversation, Paddy gets vulnerable about the toxic cocktail of alcoholism, bullying and work addiction that brought about a mental breakdown – and would ultimately lead him to embrace authenticity and give up the booze for good.

Having overcome inner turmoil and his self-described “massive ego”, Paddy shares how he has turned his darkest moments into a source of purpose. His story is a testament to the power of confronting personal demons and emerging stronger on the other side.

Song credit: Korimako, Performed by Aro, Written by Emily Looker and Charles Looker and published by Songbroker.

Kia ora! I'm Petra, and welcome to Grey Areas, back for its sixth season. We're diving deep into the conversations that matter—those tricky, often unspoken topics that can powerfully shape our lives.

Throughout this season, I sit down with incredible New Zealanders who aren't afraid to tackle the tough stuff. We explore subjects like endometriosis, our complex relationships with our bodies, singleness, loneliness, and the inner dialogue we all have—sometimes critical, sometimes empowering.

I'm excited to bring you conversations with amazing guests, including journalist Paddy Gower, broadcaster Susie Ferguson, and beloved cook and author Nici Wickes. 

Plus we'll look ahead to life's next chapters—beyond the hormones and emotional turbulence—asking ourselves, "What does it mean to be retirement-ready?" and "What do we want from the next season of our lives?" Because we all know it's about more than just money, (even though that helps!)

This season, we're also welcoming our first international guest, Dr. Hillary McBride, who will share her wisdom on how we can reconnect with our bodies in meaningful ways.

Creating Grey Areas is some of the most fulfilling work of my life, and I'm so grateful to have you on this journey with me. Together, we have the opportunity to engage in conversations that just might spark revolutionary thinking. So come, join me around this virtual campfire as we launch Season 6.

New episodes drop weekly starting October 3rd on rova or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Getting up at stupid-o’clock every weekday morning to perform in front of the nation requires a certain type of strength and stamina. Add perimenopause to the pressure cooker of live television and you’ve got yourself a potent cocktail of challenges.

Part of Jenny-May Clarkson’s secret is the dynamic partnership she’s forged with her husband Dean. In this episode they share the story of their second-chance-at-love romance, and how their differences complement each other in raising twins, working hard, and navigating major life transitions.

Jenny-May also shares about receiving her moko kauae (traditional Māori tattoo), and how understanding and embracing her heritage has invited her inner critic to take a back seat.

Song credit: Korimako, Performed by Aro, Written by Emily Looker and Charles Looker and published by Songbroker.

Having children and becoming a mother is a huge part of our collective cultural script. When you’re single, the question is ‘when are you going to find someone?’ When you find someone, the question becomes ‘when are you having children?’

So what about the many women who don’t have children, either by choice, circumstance or because they’re unable to?

Otherhood is a newly published book of essays on being childless, childfree and child-adjacent.

Lil O’Brien and Kathryn van Beek are two of the editors of this anthology, which charts the challenges, joys and griefs that being without children brings, and has also inadvertently created space and a lovely community for people who aren’t mothers. Ka pai!

Song credit: Korimako, Performed by Aro, Written by Emily Looker and Charles Looker and published by Songbroker.