Different Matters by Damien Grant
Damien Grant, a New Zealander who describes himself as fortunate and reckless, hosts conversations with a range of New Zealanders who have agreed to spend an hour talking with him. Drawing on his nearly six decades of life experience, he explores their stories and perspectives. The podcast offers candid, hour-long interviews with interesting Kiwis.
Episodes
Julie Glamuzina on Different Matters, Hjilmar Dannevill, Lies and Spies
Julie Glamuzina is the author of Perfectly Natural, Out Front: Lesbian Political Activity in Aotearoa 1962-85, and co-author of Parker and Hulme: A Lesbian View. She has also written for the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Women Together, and Spiral magazine. In 2021 she published Lies and Spies, on the curious life of Hjilmar Dannevill. Hjilmar Dannevill travelled the world in the late ninet
Daniel Kalderimis on Different Matters, Zest, depression and Philosophy
Daniel is a leading barrister who lives with his family in Wellington. He has lived in New York and London, taught at Columbio University, and practises internationally. With degrees in law, English and philosophy, he has always been interested in unravelling the layers of meaning behind ordinary things. This book is about what happened when that search, in his own life, became pressing rathe than
Nevil Gibson on Different Mattters, the business of Ron Brierley
Freelance writer and editor Nevil Gibson has been a journalist since 1968, including in the positions of Managing Editor and Editor-in-Chief at the National Business Review, for which he now reviews books. Following a review of Ron Brierly's book, The History of Brierley Investments Ltd, 1961- 2021, I interview him about the life and business of Ron Brierley. Tune in as I interview a wide selectio
Sarah McLaughlin on Different Matters and Authoritarians in the Academy
Sarah McLaughlin is Senior Scholar, Global Expression at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. She studies the relationship between authoritarianism, free nations, and global censorship. She recently published a book about transnational repression in higher education, titled Authoritarians in the Academy. Her other writings have been featured in outlets including Foreign Policy, MSN
Dr Hartwich on Different Matters, world order, risks to democracy & Donald Trump's role in it.
Oliver is the Executive Director of The New Zealand Initiative. Before joining the Initiative, he was a Research Fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies in Sydney, the Chief Economist at the Policy Exchange in London, and an advisor in the UK House of Lords. In this episode, Dr Hartwich and Damien discuss the Acceleration in decline of world order, risks to democracy, and the Dimise of the Li
Dr Matthew Hooten on Different Matters, conservatism, its principles and conservatists in government
Matthew Hooton is a respected centre-right commentator on New Zealand politics and its political economy, including as one of the best-read weekly columnists for the New Zealand Herald. He recently completed his PhD in Philosophy at the University of Auckland on the topic is “Groundwork & Principles of Applied Conservatism”. His thesis is about conservatism in a general sense, draw
David Cohen on Different Matters, Jacinda and The Untold Stories
David Cohen is a Wellington writer and the author of eight books. In 2025 he released his political biography, Jacinda: The Untold Stories, co-authored by Rebecca Keillor, in November 2025. After Jacinda turned down Cohen's request to interview her for the book, he decided to create a platform for the voices that haven't been heard. Drawing on more than 100 interviews and extensive research, David
Stephen Rowe on Different Matters, liberterianism, AI in politics and AI in Porn
Stephen Rowe is full-stack digital strategist by profession, innovator by passion, and a storyteller at heart. With over a decade of experience under his belt, he has mastered the art of bridging and blending cutting-edge technology with human connection. After graduating in 2015, he left Montana to join Charlie Kirk’s newly founded organization, Turning Point USA, at its headquarters
Helen Joyce on Different Matters, the trans movement and why it is uniquely poisonous
Helen Janeith Joyce is an Irish journalist and gender critical activist. She studied as a mathematician and worked in academia before becoming a journalist. Joyce began working for The Economist as education correspondent for its Britain section in 2005 and has since held several senior positions, including finance editor and international editor. She published her book Trans: When Ideology Meets
Bariz Shah on Different Matters, Beyond Hope, and Islam
Bariz Shah, originally from Afghanistan, grew up in New Zealand in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, grappling with a sense of identity shaped by the tension between his cultural roots and his new environment. At age 18, Bariz ended up in an Auckland prison. He spiralled from schoolyard fights into crime and drugs - until prison made him rethink the story of his life. Years later, in Christchurch
Dr James Kierstead on Different Matters, Grade Inflation and its links
Dr James Kierstead is a Research Fellow at The New Zealand Initiative focusing on higher education policy, including academic freedom. James holds a BA in Classics from Oxford, an MA in Ancient History from the University of London, an MA in Political Science from Stanford and a PhD in Classics from Stanford. He is also the co-host, along with Michael Johnston, of Free Kiwis!, a podcast dedicated
Mike McRoberts on Different Matters, reflections in the water, Te Reo Maori and Speaking my Language
One of New Zealand's most recognisable faces, Mike McRoberts was the TV anchor of the six o'clock news bulletin on Newshub for over two decades. Damien Grant interviews Mike McRoberts about his book, Speaking My Language. For much of his life, Mike felt burdened by not knowing his own language - te reo Maori. Growing up at a time when te reo was scarcely spoken in daily conversations, and within a
Dr Oliver Hartwich on Different Matters, Leonardo da Vinci, the enlightened world and where it's headed.
Oliver is the Executive Director of The New Zealand Initiative. Before joining the Initiative, he was a Research Fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies in Sydney, the Chief Economist at the Policy Exchange in London, and an advisor in the UK House of Lords. According to Hartwich, "...more than half of New Zealanders think the country is going in the wrong direction. Trust in Parliament, the
Benedict Collins on Different Matters, Meth, and how New Zealand got hooked.
Benedict Collins is a political journalist working for 1News in the press gallery in Wellington. From his first days as a reporter, he's had a strong interest in covering anything to do with illicit drugs and enforcement. He's covered punitive drug-testing sanctions applied to beneficiaries, the battle to legalise pill-testing at festivals, the 2020 cannabis referendum, and in 2018, helped expose
Barbera Oakley on Different Matters, psychopaths, sociopaths, Machiavellianism and the evil genes behind them
Dr Barbara Oakley is a Distinguished Professor of Engineering at Oakland University. She conducts research on learning, cognition, and educational practices, bringing insights from neuroscience and psychology into the classroom. A New York Times bestselling author, she has written and co-authored numerous books, including A Mind for Numbers, Learning How to Learn, Mindshift, and Uncommon Sense Tea
Musa al-Gharbi on Different Matters, the origins of woke ideology, symbolic capitalism and the new "woke" elite
Musa al-Gharbi is an American sociologist. He is an assistant professor in the School of Communication and Journalism at Stony Brook University. Al-Gharbi is the author of the 2024 book We Have Never Been Woke: The Cultural Contradictions of a New Elite, a study of the history and political economy of the knowledge professions from the interwar period through the present, published by Prince
Dr Paul Wood on Different Matters, Cowboy, and How to Escape from Prison
Wood left high school early, associating with drugs and violence, committing crimes to maintain his habit. At 18 years old, he went to prison in Paremoremo Prison for murdering his 42 year old drug dealer, after he attempted to sexually assault Wood. Wood was convicted of murder and served 11 years in prison. Wood's mother passed away three days before the murder. He served part of his sentence in
Detective Sergeant David "Chook" Henwood on Different Matters, Unmasked Monsters and Teina Pora
David "Chook" Henwood is one of the country's most decorated and respected police officers, who served for 37 years in South Auckland before retiring in 2007. He held the rank of Detective Sergeant and was awarded a record three silver merit awards during his time as an officer. Henwood was an early and, for a time, relatively lone voice in proclaiming the innocence of Teina Pora for the 1992 rape
Jonathan Ayling on on Different Matters and free speech
Jonathan Ayling, Chief Executive of the Free Speech Union (New Zealand) has worked in Wellington for 8 years across roles as a Beehive staffer, senior political advisor, and in the NGO sector. Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews a wide selection of interesting and entertaining individuals, authors, business people, politicians and anyone else actually willing
James Lindsay on Different Matters, postmodernism and the three perspectives
Dr. Lindsay is an American-born author, mathematician, founder of New Discourses, and self-described professional troublemaker. Known for his sharp wit and thought-provoking insights, he is a leading critic of Critical Race Theory and "Woke" ideology. His bestselling books, including Cynical Theories and Race Marxism, have sparked global dialogue and been translated into over a doze
Dr Peter Boghossian on Different Matters, and God
Peter Gregory Boghossian is an American philosopher and college professor. His main focus is bringing the tools of professional philosophers to people in a wide variety of contexts. Peter has a teaching pedigree spanning more than 25 years and 30 thousand students.Peter's primary research areas are critical thinking and moral reasoning. His doctoral research studies, funded by the State of Or
Professor Nigel Biggar on Different Matters and Colonialism
Nigel Biggar CBE is Emeritus Regius Professor of Moral Theology at the University of Oxford and Distinguished Scholar in Residence at Pusey House, Oxford.In his recent book, Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning Nigel Biggar addresses the crucial questions in eight chapters: Was the British Empire driven primarily by greed and the lust to dominate? Should we speak of ‘colonialism and slavery’ in the same
Roger Partridge on Different Matters and his report on 'Reining in the Supreme Court'
Roger Partridge is chairman and a co-founder of The New Zealand Initiative and is a senior member of its research team. He led law firm Bell Gully as executive chairman from 2007 to 2014, after 16 years as a commercial litigation partner. Roger recently published a report titled, Who Makes the Law? Reining in the Supreme Court, in which he warns of a looming constitutional crisis in New Zealand, a
Martin van Beynen on Different Matters, and the Bain Family Murders
Martin van Beynen was born in Christchurch, and lived in West Auckland from the age of 11, where he attended St Peter's College. He later graduated from University of Auckland where he studied law and wrote for Craccum.He also completed a Diploma in Journalism at the University of Canterbury in 1989, and began working with the Otago Daily Times in Dunedin and joined The Press in Christchurch
Deborah Hart on Different Matters, and her mother, Inge Woolf
The book Resilience, written by the late Inge Woolf, covers her remarkable life story. Born in Vienna before the war, her story tells of fleeing from Nazi oppression and genocide, establishing a tenuous life in England, her arrival in New Zealand, marriage, tragedy and children. Join me Damien Grant, as I talk to lawyer, director, adviser, independent reviewer, chief executive, advocate, communit
Dr Oliver Hartwich on Different Matters
Dr Oliver Hartwich is the Executive Director of the NZ Initiative; New Zealand’s premier free-market think tank.Before joining the Initiative, he was a Research Fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies in Sydney, the Chief Economist at Policy Exchange in London, and an advisor in the UK House of Lords. Oliver holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Business administration and a PhD in Law fro
Dr Eric Crampton on Different Matters
Dr Eric Crampton is the chief economist at The New Zealand Initiative, New Zealand's leading private think-tank. He previously served for over a decade as lecturer and senior lecturer in economics at the University of Canterbury. In this second interview with Dr Eric Crampton we discuss Paul H. Ruben's book, Darwinian Politics: The Evolutionary Origin of Freedom.Join me, Damien Grant, an
Marilyn Waring on Different Matters
Marilyn Waring is a New Zealand feminist, former politician, author of multiple books, academic, and activist for female human rights and environmental issues.She is best known for her 1988 book If Women Counted, and she obtained a D.Phil in political economy in 1989. Through her research and writing she is known as the principal founder of the discipline of feminist economics.Join me, Damien Gran
Toby Young on Different Matters - Free speech and redemption from cancel culture
Toby Young is a British social commentator and the founder and director of the Free Speech Union in the United Kingdom, an associate editor of The Spectator, and a former associate editor at Quillette. Toby recently visited New Zealand on invitation from the NZ Free Speech Union. In this Episode we talk about his book, How to lose friends and alienate people, his magnificently chaotic years in Ma
Professor Paul Moon on Different Matters - Ans Westra's Life
Evan Paul Moon is a New Zealand historian, a professor and author of New Zealand history and biography. Moon is widely recognised for his study of the Treaty of Waitangi, and has published two books on the topic. More recently he published Ans Westra: A Life in Photography, the story of the photographer Ans Westra, who died in 2023.Join me, Damien Grant as he interviews Dr Paul Moon, about the l
Jonathan Rauch on Different Matters
Jonathan Rauch is an American journalist, philosopher and author of eight books and many articles on public policy, culture, and government.He has also written on topics as widely varied as adultery, agriculture, economics, gay marriage, height discrimination, biological rhythms, number inflation, and animal rights.Join Damien Grant as he interviews Jonathan Rauch, who is currently in New Zealand
Christopher Finlayson on Different Matters
The Honourable Christopher Francis Finlayson is a New Zealand lawyer and former Member of Parliament, representing the National Party. He practiced law in Wellington as a solicitor before going to the Bar in 2002. He was elected to Parliament in 2005 and became Attorney-General and Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations in 2008. During his Ministerial career he also held a number of other p
Steve Braunias on Different Matters
Steven Braunias is a New Zealand author, columnist, journalist and editor. He is the author of 13 books. In his book, Missing Persons, which was winner of the 2023 Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Non-Fiction, Braunias tells Twelve extraordinary tales of disappearance including former journalist Murray Mason, found dead in the Auckland Domain; the mysterious death of Socksay Chansy, found dead in a gra
Professor Alex Calder on Different Matters
Alex Calder is a professor at the Faculty of Arts, English and Drama, New Zealand of Auckland University. He also edited the book, Gallipoli to the Somme, written by Alexander Aitken.Aitken began to write about his experiences in 1917 as a wounded out-patient in Dunedin Hospital. Every few years, when the war trauma caught up with him, he revisited the manuscript, which was eventually published as
Graham Linehan on Different Matters
Graham Linehan is an Irish comedy writer and anti-transgender activist. He created or co-created the sitcoms Father Ted (1995–1998), Black Books (2000–2004) and The IT Crowd (2006–2013), and he has written for shows including Count Arthur Strong, Brass Eye and The Fast Show. Early in his career, he partnered with the writer Arthur Mathews. Linehan has won five BAFTA awards, including Best Writer,
Associate Professor James Hollings on Different Matters - The Crew Murders
James Hollings is Programme Leader, Journalism, for Massey Niversity. He has worked in senior roles in news organisations, including as production editor and as a senior correspondent in health, agriculture, industry and the arts. His doctoral dissertation was on the decision-making processes of reluctant witnesses.James Hollings, together with Kirsty Johnston, recently published The Crewe Murder
Dr Eric Crampton on Different Matters
Dr Eric Crampton is the Chief Economist at The New Zealand Initiative and previously served for over a decade as Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in Economics at the University of Canterbury.In this episode Eric and Damien discuss the book, How the Dismal Science Got Its Name, by David M. Levy. Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews a wide selection of interesting a
Philip Matthews on Different Matters
Philip Matthews is a senior journalist, reviewer and editorial writer whose work has appeared in the NZ Listener, Metro, Sunday Star-Times, Landfall, The Press, The Wire, The Spinoff and a host of other publications during his 25 years in the business. For more than 10 years he was an award-winning film reviewer for the NZ Listener, with two stints as the magazine’s arts and books editor.Damien in
Joe Bennett on Different Matters
Joe Bennett is one of New Zealands most highly decorated columnists and has won the New Zealand Colomnist Award of the Year multiple times. Born in England, Joe Bennett has lived in New Zealand since 1987. Thirteen collections of his columns have been published in New Zealand and three world-wide. He has had four travel books published by Simon and Schuster UK, and his work has been translated in
Different Matters with Jordan Williams
Jordan Henry Williams (born 1986) is New Zealand lawyer best known for his political activities, which are often connected to the National or ACT parties, and his lobbying for liberal and conservative causes.Jordan is also one of the cofounders of the Taxpayers Union which recently celebrated its ten years in existance.
Different Matters with Gareth Hughes
Gareth Thomas Llewelyn Hughes is a New Zealand activist, Political Commentator, and a former politician of the Green Party. He was a member of the New Zealand Parliament for eleven years, from 2010 to 2020.He is also the author of the book, A Gentle Radical, The Life of Jeanette Fitzsimons. Join me as I speak to Gareth about Jeanette's early life, what drove her to vaticalism, the limits to g
Different Matters with Lord (Daniel) Hannan of Kingsclere
Lord Hannan of Kingsclere is an author and columnist. A former member of the European Parliament and advisor to The Board Of Trade, he writes for ConservativeHome and The Washington Examiner. He is currently a sitting member of the House of Lords where he takes the Conservative whip, and has since 2020 served as an adviser to the Board of Trade. He is the founding president of the Initiative for F
Different Matters with Dr Don Brash
Don has been one of New Zealand's leading economic and financial policy advisers, and over the years he has provided advice to governments in many parts of the world – in New Zealand most obviously, but also in recent years in Indonesia, Cambodia, the Bahamas, Saudi Arabia, and the Pacific Islands.Brash was Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand for fourteen years from 1988 to April 2002
Different Matters with Paul Diamond
Paul Diamond is a writer, broadcast journalist and historian. His radio programmes have won Qantas Media and Media Peace Awards. He was also awarded a David Low Chevening Fellowship in 2001 to study at Oxford University. Diamond’s first book, A Fire in your Belly (2003) is a significant collection of interviews with Maori leaders. Makereti: Taking Māori to the World (2007), is a biography by Diamo
Different Matters with Todd Lauchlan
Todd Lauchlan is the managing director of JLL and a real estate professional with over 25 years of experience in office leasing, investment sales, transactions and managing corporate clients. I am a strategic thinker adept at combining technical skills with strong leadership abilities to implement quality business decisions.Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews
Different Matters with Dr David Cumin
In this interview with Dr David Cumin from the Israel Instatute of New Zealand, we talk about the history of anti-Semitism, the history of the state of Israel and some of the activities that have led to the current crisis with the Hamas attack on Southern Israel. Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews a wide selection of interesting and entertaining individuals
Different Matters with Michael Reddell
Michael is an independent economic commentator, blogger, and stay-at-home parent. His regular blog, Croaking Cassandra, focused on economics and public policy (especially in New Zealand) and am researching issues relating to New Zealand's longer-term economic performance. Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews a wide selection of interesting and entertainin
Different Matters with Liam Hehir
Liam is a “general practitioner” of the law and has strong connections to the rural community. He is a trusted advisor to many farming families. He has also developed a strong practice advising start-ups and not-for-profit organisations.Liam also frequents national radio, television, digital and print publications as a political commentator.Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien
Different Matters with Guyon Espiner
In this episode I interview Guyon Espiner, Investigative Journalist who has been working in the media industry since 1994 in newspapers, websites, radio and TV. He is also the author of The Drinking Game, an incisive analysis of how our drinking culture is influenced by the government, media and big business.Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews a wide selectio
Different Matters with Anna Fifield
Anna Fifield is a remarkable and respectable journalist, columnist, author, and current editor of The Washington Post. I interviewed her about her book, The Great Successor: The Divinely Perfect Destiny of Brilliant Comrade Kim Jong Un. Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews a wide selection of interesting and entertaining individuals, authors, business people,
Different Matters with Steven Joyce
Steven Joyce, former politician, filled the roles of Minister of Transport, Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Minister of Science and Innovation, and then served as Minister of Finance and Minister for Infrastructure, to name a few. In this episode we discuss his book, On the Record. Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews a wide selection
Different Matters with Professor Paul Spoonley
Professor Paul Spoonley has spent a lifetime in academia; as an academic, administrator as well as a prolific author and commentator. In his 2020 book, The New New Zealand Spoonley looks at our nation's recent demographic past and the challenges for our future. In this discussion we discuss his book and the policy implications of a falling populaitons in the regions and an accelerating growth
Different Matters with Dr Oliver Hartwich
Dr Oliver Hartwich is the Executive Director of the NZ Initiative; New Zealand’s premier free-market think tank. In July he lead a delegation to Ireland with over thirty of his members, a group that included billionaires, knights of the realm and me. We discussed why we went, what we learnt in Ireland, and what the Hon Trevor Mallard is up to over in Dublin
Different Matters with Max Rashbrooke
Max Rashbrooke is a conviction-driven academic who has written extensively on inequality and wealth in New Zealand. He is the author of a number of books and a regular contributor for The Guardian and a range of local news outlets. In this interview we discuss his 2021 book Too Much Money, and dive into our different understanding of Thomas Piketty’s work. An excellent and entertaining discussion.
Different Matters with Dr Paul Moon
Dr Paul Moon is one of this nation’s most prolific historians and authors. His books cover the years before the foundation of our country, a slew of our most important figures, and in his latest work our most vibrant and populus city. I interview Paul about his book; Auckland; the twentieth Century Story.
