Paddy Gower’s TFN - The F#$%ing News

When Paddy's friend and colleague Kanoa Lloyd lost her job fronting The Project on TV3, one thing she didn’t miss was the regular online abuse. She reflects on that frightening period in her life - and how realising she was a ‘mushroom’ led her down a new career path.

This week’s Brainy Kiwi has been on Paddy's radar since last year, when the AI-powered ‘Pill Bot’ device he invented won the 2024 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition. Twelve-year-old Gabriel Anthony tells us what inspired him to come up with the potentially life-saving gadget.

And Paddy has a message for Health Minister Simeon Brown on how he can - and why he should - help to ease the suffering of dying children.

Tory Whanau should be saluted for putting Wellington first and saving a no-doubt divisive and energy-sapping scrap for the mayoral race with Andrew Little.

With the harmful impacts of social media on our young people increasingly well-documented (and brutally illustrated in shows like Adolescence), Paddy meets two teens before, during and after 21 days of total smartphone deprivation. Will they survive?

Twelve New Zealanders are walking around with a potentially life-saving chip implanted in their brains. These 'Cyborg Kiwis' are testing a homegrown invention that could help millions around the world with a brain-swelling disease. Paddy meets one and scans her brain. (Spoiler alert: she survives this.)

Amanda Luxon - the Prime Minister’s wife - has offered one of the best takes on the polarisation of politics that Paddy has heard, revealing her to be down-to-earth, grounded, principled and thoughtful.

The wonderful stories your parents have about their lives will be lost forever when they die. That’s the warning being sounded by Seamus Marten and Steven Holloway, the hosts of Between Two Beers. They tell Paddy about their solution to save those stories.

The Prime Minister’s wife has offered one of the best takes on the polarisation of politics that Paddy Gower has ever heard, revealing her to be incredibly down-to-earth, grounded, principled, and thoughtful.

He redefined British comedy with iconic TV shows like Blackadder and The Young Ones, has published 16 best-selling novels, and written smash-hit films and musicals. Now, Ben Elton is in New Zealand for a nationwide stand-up tour, and sat down for a chat with Paddy.

The Pork Pie Charity Run isn’t just bringing noise and laughter to those taking part - it’s also just raised half a million dollars for KidsCan.

How good is sucking up to Donald Trump? As much as he hates to admit it, Paddy says it’s actually working pretty well right now.

This week’s Brainy Kiwi is Leighton Roberts from Sharesies. He says the economic chaos caused by Trump’s tariffs isn’t all bad news for New Zealanders.

And finally, Paddy meets an outlaw driver who once broke the record for driving at illegal speeds across the United States.

Everyone wants to be the hero and stand up to the schoolyard bully. But right now, New Zealand is flying under Donald Trump's radar - and we need to keep our mouths shut to keep it that way.

Nu‘uali‘i Eteroa Lafaele is an incredible young New Zealander. In fact she’s officially the Young New Zealander of the Year.

She has overcome cyberbullying and an industry she says isn’t ready for diversity by finding positive solutions - including the power of the block button.

What she really cares about is making the world better for Kiwi, particularly her Pasifika people. And she’s doing it with a big heart, a big laugh and a big smile on her face. Now wonder she's this week's Great Kiwi.

Also, Paddy asks How Good would it be if the Government did get behind moves to host the next America's Cup in Auckland.

And the story of Brainy Kiwi Philipp Sültrop, Kea Aerospace and their incredible solar-powered aircraft that they hope will revolutionise flight.

Paddy doesn’t even really like yachting and doesn’t live in Auckland.

But he reckons the Government’s refusal to help fund hosting the America’s Cup is lame-o and suckful, lacks vision, and is actually quite depressing.

The champion Kiwi comedian joined Paddy Gower to talk about his first new comedy tour in eight years. The Legend Returns is a playful nod to the strange new world we're living in, where artificial intelligence looms large.

Darby also shows a more serious side when discussing “the war on wokeness” and the impact that the hit Netflix show Adolescence had on him.

It's a fascinating listen!

The former Director-General of Health, Sir Ashley Bloomfield, had greatness thrust upon him during the pandemic, and because of what he did, he’s now not only a Sir, he’s also one of Paddy's 'Great Kiwis.' Today, he reveals his plan to fix health - and opens up about whether he would have done anything differently during Covid.

Is 'This Is the Fucking News' offensive? The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand think so, and Paddy's not happy about it.

Adolescence, the current Netflix blockbuster has everyone talking. It is terrifyingly good and has ignited an important debate about social media and children’s access to smartphones.

And this week's 'Brainy Kiwi' is Stefan Powell. He's the CEO of Ōtautahi-based Dawn Aerospace, which is doing incredible things with rockets. Or are they planes?