Kiwi Yarns

Today’s guest is columnist, MC, public speaker and cabaret club vixen Verity Johnson - what an epic array of titles!

Verity is an extremely talented writer whose funny, thought-provoking and relatable columns have seen her writing successfully for our biggest news organisations since she was 18 - but her first column was published in the New Zealand Herald at 16.

Cabaret club vixen really pricks up my ears too so I’m keen to find out more about that. Clue: she left the media and ran away to join the male strip club! It's a great yarn!

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Today’s guest is a man I feel like it’s fair to say we all know and love - Sir John Kirwan.

JK had a remarkable rugby career as a World Cup winning All Black, played rugby league for the Auckland Warriors, has been a respected international coach, and of course is a major figure in Aotearoa as a mental health advocate. Being one of the first high profile New Zealanders, to talk about depression and mental health, JK plays a massive role in this space - he is remarkable to watch and learn from.

He also has a wine company, is an amazing TV Presenter and Rugby commentator, and really bloody fantastic man.

This podcast was EVERYTHING I needed to hear at the moment - so I best let him invoice me for one of the most valuable therapy sessions ever! Hope you get something from it too. 

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Today’s guest is Auckland MMA fighter Carlos Ulberg - aka “The Black Jag”.

Carlos is part of the hugely successful City Kickboxing team - and it's a gym that’s described as "an old warehouse on the edge of the city" but has garnered global attention for it’s impressive array of extremely ridiculously talented UFC fighters - like Israel Adesanya and Dan Hooker.

He wants to be the best light heavyweight fighter in the world, and listening to him share his story of where he's come from and how he intends on doing it, is a fascinating insight into the mind of a professional athlete.

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Today’s guest is a well known Kiwi entrepreneur who's life has been truly fascinating thus far - the yarns do not stop today!

Many will remember Brooke Howard-Smith from the consumer affairs show Target - some may have also seen him murder me last year on the first New Zealand season of The Traitors.

And there's so much more. He was an X Games medalist and professional inline skater, he got kicked out of the United States once, AND he owned the well known nightclub, The Pony Club.

He's more recently been involved in some truly wonderful charity campaigns, he set up a successful talent agency, and he's got skin in the game in the Metaverse (I'll let him explain that haha).

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Today’s guest is our super talented New Zealand Sail GP team strategist - Liv Mackay.

Liv is also in the New Zealand team for the first ever women’s America’s Cup in Barcelona this year - so a massive year ahead!

Liv is a great role model not only for younger sailors, but she isn't afraid to speak about the lack of female representation in the sport too. She spends a lot of her downtime (which she has bugger all of!) at local yacht clubs inspiring others to get involved.

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Married at First is coming back to New Zealand this year, so if you’re looking for love and would like to bare your soul on national television - this could be your year! And, today’s guest will be right in the thick of helping guide the couples in a show that blew up to one of the most popular Reality TV shows in the world.

John Aiken has been sitting on the couch as the relationship expert across the ditch for Married at First Sight Australia since it began and he has absolutely seen it all.

And look while he’s here lets take advantage and get some solid relationship advice along the way too!

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Today’s guest is one of the country’s greatest and most loved rugby players.

A true gentleman of the sport, Keven Mealamu played 132 tests for the All Blacks - just two players have played more. He won the Rugby World Cup twice and made more than 150 appearances for the Blues in Super Rugby. 

He is loved by those who played with him, those who played against him, and I think it's fair to say we all love him (well you definitely will after this!).

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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).

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Before Kiwi Yarns returns for 2024 - here's another oldie but a goodie! Such a beautiful chat with Toni back in 2021.

Today’s guest is the wonderful Toni Street - and I’m pretty sure it would be fair to say there’s really not much this woman can’t do. She is an incredibly talented TV presenter and radio host, sports commentator, she’s a dab hand in the kitchen, she’s played both cricket and netball at a representative level, and she’s a superstar Mum to her three beautiful children. We have a lovely chat about her success, but also her strength and resilience through some really tough times. Toni is a remarkable woman with the most infectious smile and it's always a joy to speak to her!

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While Kiwi Yarns is on a bit of a break, I'm sharing some of my favourite episodes!

This interview with Ruby Tui was one of my first interviews on Kiwi Yarns, from back in 2020! She came to my house and we had a great chat - will definitely hit her up for another catch up because there is LOTS to catch up on!

Ruby Tui is a ridiculously talented woman who not only lights up the rugby field, but has the exact same effect when she walks into a room. Her warmth, generosity and humbleness makes her one of New Zealand's favourite rugby players. She's always worked incredibly hard to get to where she is - and does not take that for granted. Listening to Ruby's outlook on life and attitude towards the job she loves doing is pretty special.

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