Kiwi Yarns

I'm joined by an absolute legend of the Aotearoa drag scene in the bach this week. 

Edward Cowley, better known as the iconic Buckwheat, joins me to mark a massive milestone: the 40th anniversary of the Homosexual Law Reform Act.

From the secret nightclub stairs of the 80s to being a Samoan father of three, Edward shares it all with heart and a bit of sparkle.

We dig into the grit behind the glamour, why Pride is still so vital in 2026, and the power of a really good headpiece.

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This week we're joined by Olympic gold winning coach Bev Priestman for a deeply personal conversation. Bev opens up about the 'survival mode' she had to endure following the Canadian football team drone scandal at the Paris Olympics.

We talk about finding peace in North Canterbury, the challenge of leading our Wellington Phoenix, and why she’s ready to earn back the trust of the game she loves.  

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Welcome back to Kiwi Yarns, and welcome to our new bach!  We're kicking off 2026 with a man who has clocked up billions of views just by being his gorgeous self. 

Louis Davis opens up about the 'delusional confidence' his parents gave him, and how he navigated the jump from a small town in the Far North to rubbing shoulders with Hollywood stars like Jason Momoa.  

We also speak about the dark side of social media, and Louis shares his mission to change the stereotype of Māori men. 

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What a year it’s been. A huge thank you to all our incredible guests for joining us and sharing their stories. The kōrero throughout 2025 has been raw, real, uplifting, entertaining and inspiring.

In this bonus Best of episode, we revisit some of our favourite moments from the past year, featuring Samantha Hayes, Matt Watson, Tami Neilson, Eru Kapa-Kingi, Martin Guptill, Sara Qasem, Jo Kane, Russel Norman, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and Paul Henry.

We can’t wait for more outstanding yarns in 2026.

Mā te wā.

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For the final episode of the year, I thought it fitting to invite someone whose job is literally to explain things, and ask him to put it all into context.

Not all of it is good news, but it’s important we reflect on the good, the bad and the ugly in this tumultuous world.

Fear not, though - award-winning journalist, good friend and Stuff’s Explainer Editor Lloyd Burr joins me for plenty of laughs, a dose of therapy, some wisdom and advice, and a proper go at brioche buns.

Thank you, as always, for your wonderful support. Look out for Kiwi Yarns highlights over the next few weeks, and I’ll see you for more yarns with brilliant Kiwis in 2026.

Mā te wā!

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Ella Monnery is the voice of Christmas in the Park, belts out bangers at Synthony, and takes the main stage at Rhythm and Vines — but it’s only this year that she has focused on her solo career. With the support of her partner - producer and rapper Kings - she’s stepping confidently into a new phase.

From The Voice Australia to a nine-month cruise-ship contract, Ella has always been singing - and loving it. But challenges remain, including vocal surgery next year.

And yes, we’re dressed as Christmas decorations for this delightful chat in honour of the season!

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The aura of Matu Ngaropo hits you straight away, which is why it’s easy to see how he’s one of those performers who can do it all - and do it all well.

Matu works across film, television, and theatre. He took on one of the biggest roles of his career when he landed the part of George Washington in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton, performing across Australia and New Zealand an astonishing 700 times.

We geek out over what it takes to do something like that - and look ahead to another major role he has coming up in New Zealand next year, in & Juliet.

A fabulous kōrero with a wonderfully talented human!

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Niki Bezzant never set out to become New Zealand’s “menopause woman”, but the journalist, author, and speaker is really leaning into that title now.

It was the Healthy Food Guide founding editor’s own experiences that made her realise how little support there was for women.

Today we cut through the bullshit and hear how brilliant Niki is at helping us understand hormones, health, and happiness in menopause, midlife, and beyond (which is also the name of her best-selling book!).

And for my lovely male listeners - yes, this one’s absolutely for you as well.

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Almost everyone has an opinion on Paul Henry. Good or bad, people have certainly made up their minds about one of the country’s best-known broadcasters.

But should we pump the brakes on always thinking about his time on Breakfast? Is there more to Paul Henry than those controversial one-liners from way back when?

The new The Chase New Zealand host sits down to chat about all the other things that make up Paul Henry.

Your mind may or may not change about him - but give it a crack!

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Claire Turnbull is a nutritionist, best-selling author and professional well-being speaker.

What makes Claire so powerful is her lived experience. This isn’t some self-proclaimed “guru” pushing an agenda - Claire cuts through the shit and tells it like it is.

She cares because she’s been through it too: navigating disordered eating, dyslexia, depression, anxiety, postnatal psychosis, a brain injury, and now parenting a neurodiverse child.

Hearing Claire speak earlier this year was a game changer for me - and I hope this episode can be that for you too.

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