Happy New Year to all the wonderful supportive humans who listen to Kiwi Yarns!
Can't wait to share more epic stories with you in 2024.
We're kicking off with an extremely talented young man - Jackie Cheng.
He's an actor and stuntman, a Muay Thai fighter, and a very funny and clever creator on social media, with around half a million followers on Instagram and TikTok.
A really cool kōrero with a 23-year old wise beyond his years (that's such an older person thing to say haha).

Jackie Cheng

Welcome to Kiwi Yarns - those yarns you have where you sit down, put the kettle on, pour a whiskey or crack open a beer I honestly don‘t mind. Anyway! We‘re sitting down and we’re yarning to some great New Zealanders, their back stories, their front stories, even stories where they went sideways, we will go there. It’s a place where we celebrate the great people of this glorious nation.

Personal Journals

Society & Culture

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Today’s guest is Matt Heath. Now, Matt Heath is genuinely one of my favourite straight white guys. I think he’s also someone who I would never call just Matt, he’s Matt Heath.
And while we usually drink, watch the Warriors and talk a mixture of serious and non-serious stuff - it’s been pretty cool to look back at all the things he’s achieved in his wildly hectic yet brilliant career. His latest achievement is a book - called A Life Less Punishing - 13 Ways To Love The Life You Got. Matt Heath says it’s a deep dive into the history, philosophy and science of not wasting our time lost in anger, loneliness, humiliation, stress, fear, boredom and all the other ways we find to not enjoy perfectly good lives. 
A GLORIOUS chat.

Matt Heath

Today’s guest is Lil O'Brien - who has written books about coming out, and being childless.
Lil has bared her soul in the most remarkable and vulnerable way. Her first book, Not That I'd Kiss A Girl, is an incredibly moving "coming out" memoir, about her navigating her sexuality during her years at Otago University. Now she and two other amazing women have released Other Hood: Essays on being childless, childfree and child-adjacent.
This is a really important conversation, we do go deep. Just letting you know Lil shares her own story of loss, which we appreciate may be upsetting for some to hear.

Lil O'Brien

Today’s guest is one of the country’s greatest tennis players, Marcus Daniell.
He’s back on the court for his final year before retiring, after two frustrating years out with knee injuries.
Marcus is creating a legacy that will last beyond his playing days, and will reach far more than just the tennis court. This year, he’s donating 50 percent of his prize money to charity - part of his mahi as founder of High Impact Athletes.
A great chat with a professional sportsman who isn't afraid to tell it like it is.

Marcus Daniell

Today’s guest is one of the country’s best surfers, Paige Hareb. 
The proud professional athlete from mighty Taranaki and the beautiful Oakura Beach, Paige has had a hugely epic career since she became the first woman from New Zealand to qualify for the Championship Tour. She’s been monumental in the growth of female surfers here which we love!

Paige Hareb

Today’s guests are Olympic silver medal rowing mums, Lucy Spoors and Brooke Francis.
The two have come together to race in the double sculls and have their sights set on gold in Paris. What’s really cool, is Lucy and Brooke are not only world class professional athletes, they’re world class professional new mums - showing the remarkable strength and toughness women have returning to this level of sport after having a baby.
A really open an honest chat about tackling both!

Jackie Cheng

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