In our first interview for 2020 we chat to well loved comedian, Urzila Carlson.

Urzila kindly joined us on Smile and Pod and talks about her childhood in poverty in South Africa, how she unwittingly started her career as a comedian at age 32 and how she deals with online bullying and trolling.

Her outlook is honest and positive, but also no nonsense! You won't be able to help but fall in love with her, her humour and her honesty.

Join us as we revisit some of our interviews from the past six months, and thank you again for supporting our big leap of faith with Smile and Pod this year!

This week we feature highlights former Nightline host Claire Robbie, former Olympic skiier Anna Willcox, Preston Hegel of the XCH Christchurch and actor Mike Minogue of Wellington Paranormal. 

We thank them again for making time for us, and sharing their personal journey with us here at Smile and Pod.

We'll have more highlight episodes out over the holidays, so make sure you go back and have a listen if any of these snippets intrigue you!

Join us as we revisit some of our interviews from the past six months, and thank you again for supporting our big leap of faith with Smile and Pod this year!

This week we feature highlights from Outrageous Fortune and Westside star, Antonia Prebble. Mentor, social activist and public speaker, Richie Hardcore talks masculinity. Brodie Kane of The Hits talks to us about her career in the army before broadcasting, and Brooke Howard-Smith of Target and X Games fame explains how he got his ego in check as a young man on top of the world. 

We thank them again for making time for us, and sharing their personal journey with us here at Smile and Pod.

We'll have more highlight episodes out over the holidays, so make sure you go back and have a listen if any of these snippets intrigue you!

Join us as we revisit some of our interviews from the past six months, and thank you again for supporting our big leap of faith with Smile and Pod this year!

This week we feature highlights from neuroscience educator Nathan Wallis, rugby commentator Grant Nisbett, 2019 Young New Zealander of the Year Kendall Flutey, and founder of environmentally sustainable beauty company Ethique, Brianne West. 

We thank them again for making time for us, and sharing their personal journey with us here at Smile and Pod.

We'll have more highlight episodes out over the holidays, so make sure you go back and have a listen if any of these snippets intrigue you!

This is the first of our Holiday Highlight episodes!

Join us as we revisit some of our interviews from the past six months, and thank you again for supporting our big leap of faith with Smile and Pod this year!

This week we feature highlights from Jason Gunn, Jen Young of Intentional Generations, Tom Sainsbury and Verity Johnson.

We thank them again for making time for us, and sharing their personal journey with us here at Smile and Pod. 

We'll have more highlight episodes out over the holidays, so make sure you go back and have a listen if any of these snippets intrigue you!

In this week's episode we feature rural broadcaster, Craig Wiggins.

Best known to the rural community as 'Wiggy', Craig's life has taken many different paths since his childhood in Raetihi.

Growing up on a farm with steep and rugged topography, Craig learned early about the importance of horses and developed a passion for working with them. Through many chance opportunities in life he has developed a respected broadcast and MC career and regularly reports for rural media such as Farmers Weekly, The Country and is a host of the annual Rural Games in Palmerston North. 

He's also been a huge driver of the current health check programme for farmers with Global HQ, and supporting farmers mental health following the Mycoplasma Bovis outbreak. 

After losing his father early in life and suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, Craig has learned to embrace every opportunity and fulfill it to it's maximum potential.

This week's episode features Cheryl Spain, Executive Director of The Gift Trust.

Cheryl became an avid supporter of the environment and social justice after growing up in a large family in Wainuomata.

The bombing of the Rainbow Warrior when she was a teenager proved the catalyst to lead her towards helping worth causes, in a career that would lead her around the world.

Now days Cheryl works for The Gift Trust, helping people who wish to donate to charities and causes to choose the most effective way to do so. 

Cheryl is passionate about helping others, and this shines through in her story.

On this week's episode we talk to Ollie Langridge, who made history earlier this year when he became the longest sitting protester on Parliament's lawn in Wellington, New Zealand.

Ollie describes himself as 'a normal every day Dad' who was concerned with what his children would face in future if nothing was done about climate change today.

He sat on the lawn at Parliament for 100 days urging the Government to declare a climate change emergency, and though he started out on his own, he was soon joined by thousands of others who supported his mission. 

Was abused, sworn at and spat at. But he also brought out the best in Wellingtonians who wanted to make a difference for future generations. 

His story has some hard hitting statements, and will make you think about your own climate change mission as well.

Smile and Pod goes a little international this week when we meet North Carolina born, Preston Hegel.

Preston and his work at 'The Exchange Christchurch -XCHC' is helping artists reach their creative best, by supporting them with a work space and platforms to promote their products, and their craft.

Preston's journey to end up in Christchurch bizarrely stemmed from a Facebook quiz, but he soon found the city's need for a new identity drawing him in and he now calls it his home.

He's passionate about helping others to fulfill their dreams, and working hard with The Exchange to continue doing so over the coming years. 

Learn more about his amazing journey to end up on the other side of the world, including moments with Chuck Norris, Donald Trump and having a timber wolf as a pet!

On this week's episode we are honoured to sit down with former broadcaster and Mayor of Christchurch, Sir Bob Parker.

Sir Bob will be known to many through his career on television and radio - he was responsible for gaining the rights to 'This Is Your Life' in New Zealand - but of course his most important role would come as Mayor of Christchurch.

His work during and after the devastating earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 would be crucial for the city moving forward in what would become the 'new reality'.

Sir Bob is open and honest about his experiences and lessons during this time, but also reflects fondly on his childhood and career in broadcasting.