Kiwi Yarns

This week’s guest is a little bit special. Actually - she’s very special.

My mum swam the Cook Strait at 40, has completed multiple marathons and Ironman events, and now, as she nears 70, she’s preparing for yet another epic physical challenge. And she did it all while raising my brother and me.

In this episode, the lines blur a bit over who’s interviewing whom, as we chat about our endurance achievements, mental toughness, future goals, and just how damn proud we are of each other.

I hope you enjoy this as much as we did.

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Theo Dāvid is currently deep in rehearsals for Auckland Theatre Company’s Romeo and Juliet - and even if you’re not a Shakespeare geek, he shares some beautiful insights into why this 400-year-old writer and his works are still so relevant today.

A proud Samoan who grew up in South Auckland, Theo now lives in Mission Bay (his mates give him plenty of stick for that) with his beautiful partner and their two young boys. But the place closest to his heart is Huntly - and he explains why with real warmth and eloquence.

Plus, Theo reveals the harmless little white lie he told to land his gig as an ambulance driver on our much-loved Shortland Street.

*Note: this episode contains some strong language.

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Tanita Garnett is 22 years old and has already beaten cancer twice. She picked up a rugby ball at 14, and by 16, she’d made the Tasman Mako training squad.

Now recovering from a tough ACL injury, Tanita opens up about the physical and mental challenges of rehab - and what keeps her going.

She’s also a qualified joiner, choosing a trade to support herself while chasing her rugby dreams.

Tanita is a remarkable young woman. Her story - and the way she talks about her “why” - is nothing short of inspiring.

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Today’s guest is Dr Libby Weaver - a thirteen-time bestselling author and internationally acclaimed nutritional biochemist.

For years, Dr Libby has dedicated herself to empowering people to take control of their health through education and practical insights.

Her current focus is on raising awareness about iron - one of the most overlooked yet essential aspects of wellbeing.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to better understand their body and take charge of their health.

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Aotearoa’s sprint queen, Zoe Hobbs, is the first - and so far the only - New Zealand woman to run the 100 metres in under 11 seconds, clocking a personal best of 10.96 s. She was also the first Kiwi in nearly 100 years - man or woman - to reach an Olympic 100 m semi‑final, finishing 14th overall and edging ever closer to a global podium.

In this episode, she lifts the lid on elite sprinting, sharing the science, mindset, body mechanics and determination that drive the world’s fastest people down the most‑watched straight in sport.

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Joe Daymond is a comedian, writer, director and content creator, currently touring Australia with his latest show, Hope I Made You Proud. It’s a journey through his career - from living in his car, to cleaning caravans in the middle of the night, to performing on stages around the world.

I last caught up with Joe - a proud Fijian Māori from Wainuiomata - over Zoom in 2021, and let’s just say, putting us both in a studio for a proper chat was always going to be a bit dangerous.

We talk about his endgame, why he’s feeling a bit in limbo, and - fair warning - it occasionally feels a little like a therapy session.

Plus, we play a game about what to do when you bump into someone you hate at the supermarket, and Joe explains why Kiwi crowds are the toughest in the world.

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Bailley Unahi suffered a spinal cord injury at just 19 years old while studying at Otago University. She was at a flat on Castle Street when the balcony collapsed at the start of a Six60 gig in 2016.

It was a life-changing moment - one that Bailley not only faced head-on, but turned into a positive. She shares how grateful she is for everything that has happened since.

Bailley admits she finds it hard to say no to new opportunities, and it’s her relentless determination and drive that have brought her closer than ever to securing a spot on the Winter Paralympics team for 2026.

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This week, we meet Toitū te Tiriti spokesperson and Auckland Law School academic Eru Kapa-Kingi.

Eru became the face and voice of Hīkoi mō te Tiriti, which saw more than 50,000 people descend on Parliament late last year to demonstrate the unity of Māori and Tangata Tiriti, and to oppose the Treaty Principles Bill.

It was a historic moment - one that many New Zealanders, myself included, were extremely proud of - and it marked a changing of the guard, with the emergence of a new generation of young Māori leaders.

Eru reflects on what it was like to be part of this shift.

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Today’s guest has a job that, on the surface, many would describe as a "dream job" and say, "oh, how lucky!"

While there’s no denying that the titles “travel blogger,” “travel writer,” and “travel photographer” have a certain allure, Abigail Hannah’s backstory is truly fascinating.

Born in Aotearoa, Abigail spent most of her childhood growing up in rural India, a place that felt like home. She later returned to New Zealand alone to begin her studies, and was diagnosed with depression some months afterwards.

Abigail shares her experience of navigating one of the darkest periods of her life, and how falling in love with New Zealand - by reconnecting with nature - changed the course of her life.

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He holds the record for the highest ever ODI score for New Zealand, and over a 13-year international career, he represented his country in 367 matches. He is also New Zealand’s all-time leading T20 run-scorer.

Yet Martin Guptill reveals that he had little say in how his international career ended - it was almost as if he was “ghosted” by New Zealand Cricket.

Now, he's taking time to process and reflect on what was a remarkable career, and insists he still has plenty more cricket left to play.

Guptill offers a fascinating insight into the 2019 Cricket World Cup semi-final and the now-infamous final - with the emotions surrounding both still clearly evident.

Throughout it all, his family has played an integral role - something he says he is grateful for every single day.

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