Kiwi Yarns
Kiwi Yarns is a podcast where the host sits down with interesting New Zealanders to share their stories over a drink. The conversations cover back stories, front stories, and even sideways moments, celebrating the people of New Zealand.
Episodes
Reflecting on Life at 40: Brodie Kane's Birthday Special
Brodie Kane on turning 40, falling in love, running a media business. As told to mentor, Ali Mau.
This episode is a little bit different. Best-selling author and award-winning journalist Ali Mau has been a career mentor and dear friend of Brodie’s since they first worked together at TVNZ in 2012.
Ali takes the interview seat as Brodie reflects on life at 40, her continued success with Brodie Kan
Witi Ihimaera on Te Reo, Learning Purpose and Personal Legacy
This week on Kiwi Yarns, I sit down with legendary New Zealand author Witi Ihimaera.
From The Whale Rider to The Matriarch, Witi's work has shaped generations of readers. But at 80 years old, he made a remarkable decision: to return to school and immerse himself in te reo Māori.
The conversation moves from language and identity to climate change, leadership, ageing, courage and the impo
Kiwi Yarns and Friends LIVE! The Christchurch Show with Jason Gunn and Lana Searle
What happens when you end your live show tour in Christchurch on a Sunday night in-front of a sell out crowd with one of the most loved faces on television (Jason Gunn) and a true queen of radio (and former princess of Dargaville Lana Searle)?
An endless supply of stories that might have you taking out an ACC claim because your cheeks will suffer from laughing so much. Period.
Learn more abo
Sustainable Farming in Aotearoa: Inside The Little Ardroy Beef Company's Success
This week, Wayne Cameron from the Little Ardroy Beef Company pops into the bach to chat about his massive year.
From a simple farm concept to launching in over a hundred supermarkets, Wayne shares exactly how he made it happen as part of New World Emerge.
We dig into what ethically raised beef actually means and why sometimes you just have to wing it to chase your dream.
This episode w
Grammy-Winning Songwriter Joel Little Thought Career Had Peaked After Royals. Spoiler: It Had Not
Joel Little works right at the top of the music industry. But, his latest and most challenging project is much closer to home.
He and his wife Gemma co-founded and built BIG FAN - is a not-for-profit, world class multi-purpose music space in central Auckland, just down the road from where he and Lorde wrote Pure Heroine.
He wants to foster the talents of musicians, songwriters and those beh
From Primary School Teacher To New World Supermarket Success
Have you ever thought about quitting your secure day job to become your own boss?
This week, I yarn with Allie Hemmings, the former primary school teacher who did exactly that. Allie created ButterLuxe Co and won the 2025 New World Emerge startup award.
After discovering her son had a nut allergy, Allie set out to create a delicious, nut-free alternative. Through plenty of kitchen trials
Kiwi Yarns and Friends Live! The Auckland Show with Anika Moa and Tom Sainsbury
This week, sit down and get your eye and earholes around this.
The first of Brodie’s nationwide live tour of Kiwi Yarns begins in Auckland, with our beloved Comedian Tom Sainsbury and our one-of-a-kind, out-the-gate yet beautiful singer-songwriter Anika Moa.
There are wigs, harmonising VERY badly, and an obscene amount of belly laughs and possibly some bits that enter into dangerous terr
Radio Star Ash London: Women Supporting Women, How Therapy Changed Her Life, And Celebrating Her Milestone Birthday
Ash London is an Australian broadcaster who now calls New Zealand home, and works at The Edge Radio Station, on a show that is literally her name - that’s how good she is.
Not only is she good, the talented broadcaster talks about why she sees it as her duty to protect the radio industry for future generations, making sure she helps the young women who will eventually replace her. How refresh
Kiwi Legend Gin Wigmore: New Album, New Deli, New Chapter
What happens when you release your first album in eight years, open a sandwich shop, move back to New Zealand, and navigate a separation all at once?
This week on Kiwi Yarns, we sit down with Gin Wigmore for one of the most honest conversations we've ever had. Gin opens up about heartbreak, rebuilding after divorce, raising two boys, and why she throws herself headfirst into everything she do
Award-winning Actress Sara Wiseman on "Ape Camp," Doing Things That Terrify You, and The Vine of The Dead.
Our beloved actress, Sara Wiseman has spent three decades gracing our screens - from stunt work during the Xena: Warrior Princess era to starring in A Place To Call Home and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
You better believe we'll find out what it takes to become an ape at "ape camp".
Sara also discusses the moments that nearly made her quit acting and why she finds taking acting cla
Eugene Bareman's Mission to Stamp Out Street Violence — Why His UFC Stars Are the Best People for It
What happens when one of the most respected coaches in world MMA starts using his platform to tackle violence outside the cage?
This week on Kiwi Yarns, we sit down with City Kickboxing head coach Eugene Bareman.
From coaching UFC stars like Israel Adesanya, Dan Hooker and Kai Kara-France, to launching the Walk Without Fear Trust after the tragic loss of friend and fighter Fau Vake, Eug
Life as a Woman Inside the Armed Offenders Squad: Sergeant Eseta Autagavaia
We see our country's Armed Offenders Squad in the most serious of circumstances - but who are the people behind the helmets and balaclavas?
This week I met the amazing Sergeant Eseta Autagavaia, who, alongside being one of the few women in New Zealand Police's AOS, also plays netball at a professional level.
She talks about how physically and mentally challenging getting into the AOS was
Pax Assadi on religion, embracing the embarrassing and his family escaping Iran
Award-winning comedian Pax Assadi is having a massive month as his new book, Mortified, hits the shelves. The book contains the most embarrassing things that have happened in his life, including a legendary mishap in a Pakistani mosque. Pax wants us all to lean into our cringe, and why he’s over the curated perfection we see on social media. We talk about his family’s escape from Iran, and his Bah
The Woman Who Does It All: Broadcasting Star Laura McGoldrick on Sport, Family and Life With Guppy
Laura McGoldrick is everywhere. And that’s an understatement. The Sky Sport Presenter is in the bach this week for a really solid heart-to-heart. From our accidental wedding in Vegas, to the raw reality of motherhood and navigating devastating miscarriages.
Laura is hands down one of the most talented broadcasters on our screens, and it’s through hard work, hard slogs and dogged determination
A Kiwi Yarns Special: The Story behind Jono Ridler’s remarkable 1367km North Island Swim. With Special Guest, Jo Kane
This week is an incredibly special episode with Jono Ridler - the open water, ultra marathon swimmer who, on Saturday 4 April, 2026, completed a 1367 kilometer swim - the length of the North Island.
Jono didn’t do this swim for accolades or records, he did this swim because of his love for the ocean, and to raise awareness that we aren’t doing enough to protect it.
Jono’s Swim4TheOcean campa
Comedian Courtney Dawson: Raising a Teenager, Being Arrested, and How She Copes When No One Laughs
This week meet the fabulously hilarious comedian, Courtney Dawson.
We discuss her experience as a young mum, her Te Reo Māori journey and the highs and lows of performing stand-up comedy. When her jokes bomb, she leans into it!
Courtney talks Celebrity Treasure Island, I test out her work as an Agony Aunt, and how to make the most of a trip to Australia for a court hearing (hint: it inv
From Raglan to Morrinsville, Honolulu to Hollywood, the Story Behind Alex Tarrant's Acting Career
This week the super talented Alex Tarrant - star of NCIS Hawaii - reflects on the often windy and bumpy road that has led him to where he is today.
It wasn't until a significant life event that he realised acting and the industry surrounding it were his "people". And, on the podcast, we learn for the first time about this significant life event that occurred when he was at high school.
Alex
Elisabeth Easther on Playing Shorty Street Villain, Her Iconic Mum, and a Novel Years in the Making
Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of miscarriage. If you need support, please find more information at https://wheturangitia.services.govt.nz/miscarriage/support-resources
Meet the beautifully talented writer, actor, playwright, and novelist, Elisabeth Easther. You'll surely remember her as "Evil Nurse Carla" on our beloved Shortland Street back in the 90s.
Now, a best-se
You’re Allowed to Cry, Just Not on the Footy Field: Kate Thomson’s Rule for Rugby
Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of mental ill-health and suicide. Support is available any time from Lifeline, details at https://www.lifeline.org.nz/
This week on Kiwi Yarns, I sit down with Kate Thompson - star of the recently released documentary No Tears On The Field. The film follows a grassroots women's rugby season in Taranaki, and the backstories of what it takes to
Brodie Kane on Building A Media Empire After Redundancy
What do you do when you're staring down a $700,000 mortgage and suddenly lose your job?
For beloved broadcaster Brodie Kane, redundancy at the start of the pandemic was the push she needed to build her own media empire.
We talk about the reality of being your own boss, redefining home ownership by buying with her mum, and why she still identifies as a girl from Waikuku Beach.
This episo
Why the Heartwarming Bromance and Healthy Masculinity of Jay Reeve and Duncan Heyde Should Be Celebrated
What happens when two very different minds click in all the right ways? The Rock's Jay Reeve and Duncan Heyde (aka Jay and Dunc) on the special relationship that’s powered their success on-air and beyond.
From side hustles to global podcast growth, and maintaining healthy relationships while staying busy, the lads open up about how they navigate it all. There’s plenty of honesty around mental loa
How Pene Pati Took Samoa to the Biggest Opera Stages in the World
From growing up in South Auckland to performing on the world’s biggest opera stages, Pene Pati shares a wonderful yarn of the long road (including all the speed bumps) that got him there.
His is a story about resilience, family, identity, and the challenges he still faces before he walks out infront of an audience. He opens up about the pressure of the industry, the reality of rejection, and why
Saving Our Smallest Lives: World-Renowned Dr Kirsten Finucane’s Remarkable Career at Starship Hospital
Imagine being responsible for a heart no bigger than a walnut.
This week I sit down with Dr Kirsten Finucane, the legendary former Chief Surgeon at Starship, to talk about a career spent performing life-saving miracles on New Zealand’s most vulnerable children.
Kirsten opens up about the grit it takes to handle high-stakes surgery and why she finally decided it was time to trade the operat
Trump, Flying Dildos, Fake Facts and the Future of NZ Media With the Spinoff’s Toby Manhire
The media landscape in Aotearoa is changing at breakneck speed and we’re all feeling the noise. Brodie sits down with The Spinoff’s Toby Manhire to talk about the reality of the newsroom today. From the closure of Newshub to the rise of AI, Toby shares why he’s still optimistic about journalism in an election year. Plus, he gives us his personal plan for avoiding total news burnout.
Find out mor
Renee Stewart on Breathwork, Boundaries, and Big Adventures
This week I'm joined by yoga teacher and dancer Renee Stewart, who opens up about forging her own path from the global dance stage to the world’s most remote corners. If there was ever a competition for 'coolest parents' at parent teacher interviews, Renee could be a front runner with Rachel Hunter and Rod Stewart.
Renee shares what it’s really like to cross the terrifying Drake Passage to rea
Let Her Finish coming soon...
Hello there beautiful listeners! Brodie, Gracie and Tegan here with some exciting news to share and, we wanted you to be the first to hear it from us.This year, we're bringing you Let Her Finish. The podcast will appear right here, so nothing for you to do.
We cannot wait to see you all in a couple of weeks xxx
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Edward Cowley on Drag, Fatherhood, and 40 Years of Rainbow Reform
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 behin
The Phoenix Restart: Bev Priestman on Her Toughest Year
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
Louis Davis on the Dark Side of Social Media, the Power of Whānau and Creating His Dream Life
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 dar
The Best of 2025
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, Russ
How do we explain 2025? Stuff’s Explainer Editor Lloyd Burr is here to, well, explain. Plus brioche buns, niche quiche and being 'unclaimed treasure'
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 laug
How three days at business school saw Ella Monnery become one of New Zealand’s biggest singing voices - and how she’s overcoming self-doubt in her solo era
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
Can you imagine playing George Washington 700 times in one of the world’s biggest musicals? Matu Ngaropo tells all about Hamilton (the musical, not the town)
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.
Niki Bezzant on 'menowashing', ageism, and her mission to empower midlife women to become vibrant, kick-arse old ladies
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 i
Nude Paul, Yacht Paul, Gin Paul, The Chase Paul, Breakfast Paul, Palm Springs Paul: Get to know who Paul Henry really is
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 tha
Claire Turnbull on burnout, food battles and taking back control of our brains (aka GET OFF YOUR SCREENS!)
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 inj
From 'useless' to unstoppable: René Heyde’s remarkable journey from trauma to Commonwealth Games glory - and beyond
René Heyde left his 14th school in Year 12 after a teacher told him he was “useless”.
He wasn’t. He was a kid surviving a traumatic childhood, just trying to find his way.
A few years later, after a chance ride through the streets of Christchurch, René was wearing a New Zealand jersey at the 1974 Commonwealth Games - and bringing home a bronze medal. At the closing ceremony, he and a team-mate e
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe on RWC heartbreak, why the Black Ferns are so special, and what life after rugby might hold - from hairdressing to midwifery and babies
She never set out to be the greatest rugby player of all time - she was just a little girl who loved sport.
We’re lucky that girl was Portia Woodman-Wickliffe - a trailblazer for women’s rugby here in Aotearoa and across the world.
At 34, she’s the top try-scorer in New Zealand rugby history, but that’s never been her “why”.
We talk equality in sport, media coverage (or lack of it), and the fut
How Lisette Reymer became an accidental war correspondent
Award-winning journalist Lisette Reymer is Stuff’s senior correspondent and author of No, I Don’t Get Danger Money.
Lisette spent three years as Newshub’s Europe Correspondent - and it’s fair to say what she witnessed and covered during that time is almost hard to comprehend. Eight trips to Ukraine during the war, Donald Trump’s indictment, the October 7 attacks on Israel and the ensuing war in G
Teacher and writer Sara Qasem on being Palestinian and living with grief after losing her father in the March 15 terror attacks
Sara Qasem is a Palestinian teacher and writer who immigrated to Aotearoa at a young age and is now based in Ōtautahi.
In 2019, Sara lost her father, Abdelfattah, who was killed at the Al Noor Mosque by an Australian far-right terrorist who opened fire on two mosques in Christchurch - killing 51 people and injuring dozens more.
Through spoken word poetry, Sara advocates for and raises awareness
Veteran activist Tāme Iti on racism, te reo Māori, protesting, and how art saved his life
For more than five decades, Tāme Iti has been at the forefront of the pursuit of Māori rights in Aotearoa.
From being silenced from speaking te reo as a child, to finding strength in protest and tackling challenges head-on in remarkable ways, he has never stopped questioning the status quo.
Tāme is as well known and respected for his art as for his activism, and says the former saved his life an
Jon Bridges on the rising distrust in the media, being a middle-aged man in lycra, and the correct use of an apostrophe
I hope Jon Bridges takes this the right way when he reads it - he’s genuinely one of the good guys in New Zealand media.
With a television career spanning more than three decades, the comedian-turned-producer of some of the country’s biggest shows says it’s largely down to him saying “yes” to the jobs people ask him to do.
And who in the Gen-X/elder millennial age bracket could forget Bridges’ l
Rebecca Nelson: from street busking to singing for King Charles and being shoulder-tapped by the Navy - and the All Black who thought she was miming
Today’s guest shares an incredible story of never giving up on what you love.
Rebecca Nelson is practically on speaking terms with King Charles, having wowed him with her singing voice five times.
Most of her gigs - from performing the national anthem at Gallipoli to entertaining a sell-out, rugby-mad crowd at Twickenham - grew out of her time busking on the streets.
Rebecca now serves in the R
Slingshot founder Annette Presley on helping young women, ambition, Telecom battles and the cost of success
This week, we meet tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Annette Presley.
Annette started her first business at 24, co-founded one of New Zealand’s earliest internet providers, Slingshot, took on Telecom in the early 2000s (and won), and was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business and women.
Her latest mission? To support women and children through health, educa
Matt Watson’s painful epiphany that changed the course of his career - and what he’d do to overhaul New Zealand’s commercial fishing industry
Today’s guest is probably the most famous fisherman in all of Aotearoa.
Matt Watson only ever wanted to fish, and the kid who used to drag his dinghy up a steep boat ramp for the hour-long walk home has turned his passion into a remarkable career.
Matt is such a brilliant storyteller that you’ll be hooked on this one (see what I did there). But truly - what a guy!
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Dame Jacinda Ardern on leadership, religion, kindness, the state of the world, and Rhythm and Vines
It's taken seven years of asking (I'm very patient), but I finally get to sit down with our 40th Prime Minister, Dame Jacinda Ardern.
She's beaming in from the other side of the world, but we manage to squeeze in just under an hour to discuss her book, A Different Kind of Power, which is enjoying success across the globe.
We discuss her leadership and having no regrets about departing when she d
Meet Val Smith – New Zealand’s most-capped athlete and two-time lawn bowls world champion
When you talk about (or even Google) celebrated athletes in this country, rugby players usually come up first.
But I want you to meet New Zealand’s most-capped athlete, who has played an astonishing 667 international matches for her country.
She is Val Smith, one of New Zealand’s most successful lawn bowls athletes. She’s a two-time world champion and has another nine world championship medals t
Trailblazing drum and bass artist MC Tali on how her fighting spirit drives her past all the people who say no: 'Proving people wrong has always been satisfying'
This week, we're with the trailblazing drum and bass star, award-winning vocalist, MC, producer, composer, music mentor and author - MC Tali, aka Natalia Sheppard.
The girl from rural Taranaki became Aotearoa’s - and one of the world’s - first drum and bass MCs, despite coming up against an industry and people who told her she couldn’t.
We will probably all learn a thing or two about how hard it
Dame Julie Christie: 37 years of TV, from reality shows to documentaries, and the power of never taking ‘no’ for an answer
Dame Julie Christie remembers the first show she made back in 1988 as if it were yesterday. Her passion for making television is just as strong 300-odd shows later.
Her eyes nearly roll to the back of her head when we mention the title "reality TV queen" that’s often thrown around to describe her, but there’s no denying Dame Julie was a global leader in the genre.
We discuss the decline of telev
Somatic sexologist Morgan Penn is on a mission to educate about consent - and shares the deeply personal reason why
Morgan Penn is the guest I've been most intimate with (you’ll find out how and why - how’s that for a teaser?).
A lot has happened since we last spoke, but Morgan is still out there, openly sharing her journey and educating others. She believes we were never properly taught to value our bodies - and that feeling comfortable in your own skin is one of life’s greatest gifts.
As host of the hugely
Country music queen Tami Neilson on carrying both joy and sorrow, touring with Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan, and music vs politics
Tami Neilson’s just back from touring the US with her now-dear friend Willie Nelson - and Bob Dylan (yes, you’ll get the tea on what that was like...).
She’s also released her latest album, Neon Cowgirl, and shares some truly stunning stories about how it came together - particularly how she’s recently learned to carry both joy and sorrow, in life and in music.
Tami doesn’t shy away from a power
Guy Montgomery on cracking Australia, the terror of success, making spelling bees funny, and Sex and the City 2
Guy Montgomery has absolutely nailed it.
The Billy T and Fred Award-winning, Logie-nominated comedian, writer, and television host is responsible for making spelling bees funny, doing podcasts long before most (and doing them well), and cracking into Aussie television.
He's one of Aotearoa’s most internationally successful comedians, but he's back home with his latest stand-up show, I've Noticed
Outward Bound CEO Malindi MacLean is 'obsessed' with getting kids offline and outdoors. Hear how she plans to do it.
Today’s guest is Malindi MacLean, the first woman to lead Outward Bound as CEO. She took on the role while seven and a half months pregnant - and shares the many challenges that came with it.
Malindi is also the co-founder of B416, a movement calling for a minimum age of 16 for social media in Aotearoa. Remarkably, she’s never had social media herself - and is determined to help shift our habits
EJ Barnes on growing up with 'freak of nature' dad Jimmy Barnes, finding her own voice, and working with Phil Rudd
EJ Barnes is the proud daughter of Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes.
In this fascinating episode, she reflects on growing up in a family where music always came first - joining her first band with her siblings at just six years old.
And what was it really like having Jimmy Barnes as your dad during the wild years of the ’80s and ’90s?
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Russel Norman: Why he'd rather fight for the planet than hope, neoliberalism, and the attack on democracy
Russel Norman left politics when he stepped down as Green Party co-leader ten years ago - but he still has plenty of skin in the game.
In this wide-ranging discussion covering democracy, neoliberalism, the political spectrum, climate change and billionaires, we explore the state of the world - and what Russel believes must happen if the planet is to survive.
The introverted kid from Brisbane, wh
Six60’s Chris Mac on the band’s future, the myth of balance, and why it’s time to ditch tall poppy syndrome
Six60 have been soundtracking Kiwi summers since ages ago - and they’ve got the accolades to prove it.
The lads have spent a staggering 586 weeks on the New Zealand Singles Chart and a massive 1,232 weeks on the Albums Chart.
In this episode, Chris Mac - the wildly talented, theatrical bassist - shares how five very different musicians (and personalities) have become one of the most successful b
Jo Kane - my mum, my inspiration, and the funniest woman I know
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 ac
Shorty Street star Theo Dāvid on playing Romeo - the original 'F-Boy' - fatherhood, and the theatre of WWE
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
Tanita Garnett beat cancer twice as a young girl - now she's chasing a Black Ferns jersey
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 i
Changing the fear around menopause - and why we must Fix Iron First: A conversation with Dr Libby
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
Zoe Hobbs - Oceania’s fastest woman - on getting even quicker, not being ‘showy’, and the drama of the call room
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, shar
Joe Daymond on being a sensitive people-pleaser and why Kiwi crowds are the toughest in the world for comedians
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, put
Bailley Unahi wants to become New Zealand’s first female Winter Paralympian in over 20 years - and her attitude to life might just get her there
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 i
'Te Tiriti is your friend - it’s nothing to be scared of': Eru Kapa-Kingi on why tangata whenua rights benefit everyone
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 extr
Abigail Hannah on falling back in love with Aotearoa while healing from depression, and the issue with travel influencers
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 lat
Black Caps great Martin Guptill on his treatment by New Zealand Cricket, dealing with death threats after the 2019 World Cup, and life as a stay-at-home dad
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 re
Actress Rebecca Gibney on the key to longevity, hosting Sensing Murder, dancing, and MMA
Rebecca Gibney is everything I’d hoped she’d be – and more.
If I say Packed to the Rafters, Halifax f.p., The Flying Doctors, Sensing Murder – you say Rebecca Gibney.
Rebecca Gibney – and I don’t think you can refer to her by just her first name – has been a fixture in film and television for over 40 years, working across both Aotearoa and Australia.
And while she celebrated her 60th birthday last
'I've been able to get through because of the strength of other survivors': Ali Mau's powerful memoir reveals abuse, but also unimaginable strength
I've known Ali Mau for 13 years. We first met when I started working as a producer on Q+A at TVNZ, and she was the host of Fair Go.
She took me under her wing, taught me how to do piece-to-cameras, and has been a mentor and dear friend ever since.
Like many others, I did not know about the abuse she had suffered as a child until I read her book.
It is confronting and brave, and by the end, it hit
Samantha Hayes on dealing with grief from all angles, interviewing Megadeth, auditioning with a cold sore, and being a perfectionist
Samantha Hayes was just 23 when she became the presenter of Nightline - the country's youngest presenter at the time.
Since then, she has cage-dived with sharks without the main part of the cage (wild), brought the Mongrel Mob and Black Power together for an interview for the first time, and been in most Kiwis’ living rooms as co-anchor alongside Mike McRoberts on ThreeNews.
2024 was tumultuous, t
‘The best thing I’ve ever done’: How full immersion kura changed former Silver Fern Courtney Tairi’s life
Today’s guest is Silver Fern number 151, Courtney Tairi.
The former netball international and award-winning broadcaster was born and raised in Sydney, but, in her own words, her whānau and blood are Kiwi. Tainui is her tribe, Waikato is her river, Maungatautari is her mountain, and her subtribe is Ngāti Korokī/Kahukura.
Courtney has just left Sky Sport after ten years, stepping out on her own as a
Understanding your Human Design profile with Charlotte Hill
Today’s guest works in a space that, I’ll admit, I am not remotely close to being an expert on.
But when I heard Charlotte Hill, founder of True North, speak at a women’s event late last year, I was intrigued enough to open my mind and learn more. And what better way to do that than right here on Kiwi Yarns!
Human Design claims to provide insights into energy dynamics, decision-making, and life pu
Social media powerhouses Mike and Joelle Legg on going viral, setting boundaries, and navigating the wellness industry
Mike and Joelle Legg have over a million followers on every social platform they’re on and are loved worldwide for their funny, relatable marriage content.
They met at a flat viewing 19 years ago, have two boys, and recently swapped the hustle of Tāmaki Makaurau for a quieter life in Whangamatā.
Joelle opens up about her experience with postpartum depression and the vital support Mike provided, wh
Dick Frizzell on growing up in Hastings, learning the rules of art, breaking them, and becoming a 'bad artist'
Artist, illustrator, and designer Dick Frizzell is one of New Zealand’s most recognisable artists, with a ginormous back catalogue (I don’t know if you call it that in the art world) of famous works spanning pop art, stunning landscapes, commercial illustrations, and even school journals.
We explore all things art, from Dick's journey to finding his place in New Zealand’s art scene to his soon-to-
Brynley Stent and Kura Forrester on their Singles Club, Sonny Bill Williams at Pizza Hut, rejection, and independence
Brynley Stent and Kura Forrester are two brilliantly talented comedians, actors, and writers. They’re also close friends who have just bared their souls in a new TV show all about being single.
The Billy T Award winners travelled up and down the motu in search of love, delivering plenty of laughs along the way. But Bryn and Ku’s Singles Club also reveals a rarely seen, more personal side of both o
Halberg Para Athlete of the Year, Anna Grimaldi, on removing the sleeves, ditching the pockets, and no longer hiding her disability.
Today’s guest is triple gold medal-winning Paralympian Anna Grimaldi, fresh off a Halberg Award win and delivering one of the best speeches of the night.
The personal milestones Anna has achieved since becoming a para athlete are nothing short of remarkable. While we often focus on sporting achievements, it’s equally fascinating to look beyond the results and gain insight into the person behind th
How Richard Adams' deployment in Afghanistan inspired him to establish the disaster relief charity Taskforce Kiwi.
Richard Adams is a former British Army officer who served in Afghanistan. He shares how his experiences there moved him to establish Taskforce Kiwi, a disaster relief charity made up of Defence Force veterans and former emergency service workers.
The organisation provides crucial support to communities, offering assistance during and after natural disasters—which, as we know, are becoming all too
Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner talks concerts, the Warriors, a roof, and Aussie Rules.
Now, full disclosure—today’s guest is an Australian. But before you hit skip, this Australian has played a monumental role in bringing some of the biggest events the country has seen to our largest sporting stadium, creating lifelong memories for hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders. Therefore, he gets a crack!
Nick Sautner is the Chief Executive of Eden Park and during his time there, he has -
Dr Waseem Alzaher on breaking the stigma around medicinal cannabis.
A fascinating chat this week with Dr Waseem Alzaher, the founder of Cannabis Clinic - the country's largest prescriber of medicinal cannabis.
The 36-year-old moved to New Zealand from Iraq when he was seven. While he admits to having had a challenging start to his medical career, grappling with his identity and purpose, he has now found his path, playing an integral role in the rapidly growing fie
Kill the sugar and the chicken tenders too: a frank chat about food with Ganesh Raj (plus learn to eat well for less).
If this episode doesn't get you even a little bit inspired or fired up, I'll give you your money back!
Ganesh Raj graces our TV screens with the hit show Eat Well for Less, and it's there where his passion for food education grew.
Now, this top chef dedicates a massive chunk of his life to ensuring as many people as possible have access to good food for their dinner tables.
Ganesh says the first 1
Breaking down walls and killing off bad sex with Holistic Sex Coach Melissa Vranjes!
It’s the first episode of the year and I thought we’d come in really hot!
Today's guest is certified holistic sex and relationship coach and educator, Melissa Vranjes.
Melissa loves to empower women, encouraging us to embrace our sexuality, and it doesn't necessarily start (or finish) in the bedroom. What I love about people like Melissa is she puts herself out there in a space (ie sex) that we ar
