Kiwi Yarns

Today’s guest is award-winning humanitarian photographer and storyteller Helen Manson.

The mother-of-four has travelled to more than 47 countries to capture and tell the stories of the world’s most marginalised and vulnerable people in some of the most challenging situations. 

Helen has documented famine, refugee settlements, post-war environments, child sponsorship, trauma counselling, and disaster zones.

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Today’s guest is one of Aotearoa's favourite chefs, Al Brown (he's definitely one of my favourites). 

The joy the fish sliders at Depot bring me, the simple brilliance of the Mean Joe Green Best Ugly Bagel which is compulsory whenever I am at Wellington Airport, and don’t even get me started on the chicken sandwich with chicken crackling at the Fed Deli.

Al's story is pretty intriguing. His honesty and vulnerability really moved me in this episode. 

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This week we have the wonderfully talented and fabulous Morgana O'Reilly. We catch up on what it was like to work on one of the biggest shows in the world, The White Lotus.

Morgana talks about how excited she was to take on the role, but how imposter syndrome crept in, how she dealt with it, and how she's feeling about what life will be like when it comes out.

It's been a huge year for the actress, getting The White Lotus role, starring alongside Elijah Wood in Bookworm, and her brilliant performance in Friends Like Her. But you'll hear straight out the gate, she is VERY much like you and I, which will make you fall in love with her immediately.

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Today’s guest is the most capped All Black in history.

Sam Whitelock made 153 appearances in the black jersey, went to four Rugby World Cups, winning two. He played in 181 Super Rugby Games, winning seven Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders.

Now, this monumental rugby chapter has closed. It’s beautifully reflected in Sam’s new book, View from the Second Row. We talk about that history-making career but also life after rugby and how he’s off with his wonderful wife Hannah and the kids to the farm in Hawke’s Bay. How good.

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I cannot tell you how much joy actors Harrison Keefe and Nepia Takuira-Mita bring me every day. In a world where the internet - and in particular social media makes you feel like it’s all falling apart around you - the simple nature of the two lads “Come Vibe with Us” videos, where they stomp their feet and dance to absolute bangers is enough to level you right back out to peace again. Think of it like Kiwi Happy Feet. They're absolute treasures, funny as hell too!

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This week I'm joined by two-time Olympic gold medallist, and Black Ferns Sevens superstar Michaela Blyde. I can confirm both gold medals including the fresh one from Paris are present for this interview! A fascinating look into life as an elite athlete at the Paris Olympics, and at the same time an incredibly wholesome chat with a beautiful young woman from Taranaki.

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Today’s guest is New Zealand Paralympian number 156 - gold medal-winning Wheel Black, Jai Waite. Jai is also an internationally recognised and award-winning documentary maker.

His latest is Wheel Blacks: Bodies on the Line - out this week - and it follows the Wheel Blacks as they battled to rise above declining resources to try and qualify for the 2024 Paris Paralympics.

Jai became paralysed from the chest down with limited function in his arms and hands after diving into a wave and hitting a sandbar in Greece on his OE. Four years later, he would return to win a Paralympic Gold in Athens.

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Today’s guest is often described as a serial entrepreneur and innovator.

Cecilia Robinson is the founder and co-CEO of Tend Health. She dropped out of university to start her first business, then went on to build the hugely successful My Food Bag.

She is a champion of women, a mother of three children and and is passionate about sharing her wisdom and supporting women in business - which you know we love!

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Here's a podcast I'm wrapping my earholes around! On Easter Monday 2021, police were called to the home of a successful professional couple in the affluent Auckland suburb of Remuera. They found the body of Pauline Hanna.

In his emergency call, her husband, Philip Polkinghorne, said she killed herself. Sixteen months later he was charged with her murder. As this podcast is released, he's currently on trial at the High Court in Auckland.

Stuff's groundbreaking series returns to take you inside the Polkinghorne trial: Hear the witnesses, follow the evidence, wait for the verdict.

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Today’s guest is the former Prime Minister, Sir John Key.

The money trader-turned-politician-turned-board chair with a real passion for golf served as New Zealand’s 38th Prime Minister from 2008 until 2016.

Sir John’s famously been called a “rich prick” a “smiling assassin” and even “bland”. We discuss all of those names, why he's comfortable with his wealth, the most important lessons his mother taught him, yarns with Obama, the state of the world, and political regrets.

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