Grey Areas with Petra Bagust
Kia ora and nau mai haere mai to Grey Areas with me, Petra Bagust. This is about growing up and going grey, in Aotearoa New Zealand because I’m getting older. And so are you. So how do we do it well? I reckon we can do it with a bit of gorgeousness and gusto and break that ‘getting old’ mould just a little. Or maybe more than a little. So join me as we climb into some of those topics that just aren't so clear-cut, maybe are a little chewy, a little crunchy… and let’s journey our way through them. I've got a group of wonderful wāhine, and the odd beaut bloke, to chat with, and we're going to share some wisdom that we've discovered along the way. And I’d love for you to share your wisdom with me too, because everybody has something to offer.
Episodes
Pushed to my limits | Sir Ashley Bloomfield
Sir Ashley Bloomfield spent 300-odd consecutive days walking out to a lectern and telling New Zealand the status of the public health plan. As Director-General of Health through the COVID-19 pandemic, he became one of the most recognisable faces in the country's history. Calm, consistent, and quietly formidable/ a constant presence. Five years on, he's a professor at the University of Auckland, CE
Look at my beautiful body | Morgana O'Reilly
Morgana O'Reilly is an actor, writer, and one-woman force of nature whose credits span Billy T James Award-nominated theatre, Mean Mums, Neighbours, an Emmy award-winning covid comedy thriller series called INSiDE, and White Lotus. Her one-woman show ‘Stories About My Body’, a sellout tour exploring what it means to live inside a female body across the seasons of life, has just been made into a fi
Give it a nudge | Brodie Kane
Brodie Kane does not lead a quiet life. The week Petra sits down with her, she's training for the Noosa Half Marathon, producing two podcasts, prepping a live show, MCing events across the country, and running Brodie Kane Media as a one woman band. She is, by her own admission, running around like a “blue-arse fly”. And when things are getting out of hand, she's getting better at noticing it - whi
I've already fallen on my face | Robyn Malcolm
Robyn Malcolm is one of New Zealand's most beloved actors. And at 61, she is, by her own account, having the time of her life. In this kōrero, Petra sits down with Robyn who’s beaming in from Glasgow, while watching squirrels in the park, writing a new project with After the Party collaborator Diane Taylor, and settling into a life that looks nothing like the one she'd have planned, and everything
GSM - The issue affecting 84% of menopausal women | Dr Iona Weir
Most conversations about menopause cover hot flushes, brain fog, and sleep. Far fewer talk about what's happening below the waist, and for up to 84% of women, that silence comes at a real cost.
Dr Iona Weir is a cell biologist, inventor, and founder of biotech company Myregyna®. Her life's work centres on apoptosis, the process of programmed cell death, and specifically how compounds found in pla
Telling the truth under pressure | Barbara Dreaver
Barbara Dreaver has spent decades moving towards stories others walk away from. As one of New Zealand's most respected journalists and TVNZ's Pacific correspondent, she has been detained in Fiji, witnessed children in crisis across the Pacific and stood in places where telling the truth was actively discouraged.
In this kōrero, Petra and Barbara sit down properly for the first time, and the conve
Hormones, HRT, and why you're not broken | Dr Lara Briden
Dr Lara Briden is back, and for good reason. The naturopathic doctor, evolutionary biologist, and bestselling author of Period Repair Manual, Hormone Repair Manual, and The Metabolism Reset is the only guest to appear on Grey Areas three times, and this kōrero might be her best yet.
In this episode, Petra and Lara dig into what it means to have a female body, and why that's not the complicated, m
Living together, on purpose | Sir John Kirwan + Francesca Kirwan
What does it actually look like to choose your family? Not just love them, but live with them, day in and day out, across generations and cultures? In this kōrero, Petra sits down with All Black legend Sir John Kirwan and his daughter – volleyball player, business owner and young mum – Francesca for a warm, wide-ranging conversation. They talk intergenerational living, the Italian way of life, and
BONUS: ADHD, mum-guilt & winning The Voice Australia at 40 | Tarryn Stokes
Tarryn Stokes won the 12th season of The Voice Australia at 40, making her the oldest winner in the show's history. But long before the blind audition that stopped the judges in their tracks, she'd spent years singing backing vocals for Guy Sebastian and Jessica Mauboy, leading worship in churches, and quietly wondering if she'd already missed her moment.
In this kōrero, Tarryn opens up about gro
BONUS: Finding your way home | Safina Stewart
Born in Aotearoa, raised in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, and transplanted to suburban Melbourne at age ten, Safina Stewart has spent most of her life figuring out where home is. As an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artist, educator, and storyteller, she's had to find that answer from the inside out.
In this kōrero, Safina opens up about growing up as a "bush pikinini," not learning t
Season 9 is coming - 16th April
Kia ora e te whānau!
In the melee of mid-life - which can be dense, frantic and fabulous all at once - we need spaces to listen to each other and to ourselves, and it’s useful to navigate those gritty ‘grey areas’ together.
This season, we aren’t holding back - digging deep into topics that matter most to us right now like hormones, skin, aging parents, courage and keeping on keeping on (and we
Go your own way | Lucy Lawless
In this episode, I sit down with the legendary Lucy Lawless — actor, director, and all-round creative force — for a real conversation about what it means to embrace midlife - to dig into the surprise and delight of this season.
Lucy shares how her fifties have brought a renewed sense of drive and possibility. We talk about learning to take risks, staying open to being changed by others, and the f
End your fight with food | Claire Turnbull
In our fast-paced, image-oriented world, it's no surprise that our relationship with food - especially as our bodies change in midlife - can sometimes be fraught.
In this kōrero, Claire Turnbull, a seasoned nutritionist and author of, End Your Fight with Food, opens up about her personal challenges and provides insights into the complex world of eating, self-image, and holistic well-being.
We
A bit of an enigma | Jesse Mulligan
In this episode I sit down with legend of the screen, print and airwaves, Jesse Mulligan for a candid conversation.
We chat about being described as an 'enigma', his unique thought processes and difficulties parenting in a digital age. Jesse also opens up about the only time he cried on television, his challenges navigating romantic and professional relationships and his surprising perspective o
Demystifying endometriosis | Fatima Savea + Dr Amelia Ryan
Endometriosis affects at least 1 in every 10 women in Aotearoa New Zealand — that is a staggering number.
In this episode, mother and content creator Fatima Savea opens up about her long struggle with severe menstrual pain and undiagnosed endometriosis, which took a serious toll on both her physical and mental health. Fatima shares how she and her husband, Julian Savea, only discovered the condit
Living alongside adversity | Jess Quinn
In this episode Jess Quinn shares her courageous journey from surviving cancer as a child to becoming an amputee and dealing with endometriosis.
Jess talks about her path to self-acceptance, the very real challenges and joys of motherhood without the convenience of two legs, and her advocacy work for women's health.
Emphasizing radical acceptance and her life as ‘an open book’ with boundaries,
How to fix your brain | TJ Power
TJ Power is the best-selling author of The DOSE Effect and a neuroscientist who teaches people, young and old, how to fix their brains.
By paying attention to how we’re wired, and what we spend our time doing, we can change our brain chemistry in remarkably simple and effective ways.
In our social media-soaked frantic society it’s easy to accidentally ‘hack’ our motivation getting cheap rewards
Savouring the seasons | Nadia Lim
In this interview, I sat down with the inspiring, go-getter Nadia Lim.
Our conversation covers cookbooks, chickens, sunflowers, and the seasons of life. Nadia also opens up about her relationship with her husband Carlos, the importance of self-care, community and resilience.
This is a deeply candid discussion filled with valuable insights, plenty of laughs, and reveals the highs and lows of ju
Nothing to hide | Stan Walker
In this interview, I sat down with beloved kiwi musician Stan Walker. Our conversation covers his multidimensional career, his journey with identity, the importance of maintaining boundaries, and protecting his peace.
He speaks openly about his growing understanding of forgiveness, the effects of trauma, and the long-term process of healing and self-acceptance. Stan also emphasises his dedicati
A public private life | Dame Jacinda Ardern
As you and most of the world know, Dame Jacinda is the former Prime Minister of New Zealand and recently published her best-selling memoir, A Different Kind of Power.
Our cross-hemisphere conversation covers identity, servant leadership, politics and her immense sense of responsibility. We also chat about the brand new documentary, Prime Minister, (and having partner Clarke Gayford turning the c
Season 8 Trailer
Season 8 of Grey Areas launches tomorrow! And just like the first sensational seven seasons my guests will wrangle with the challenging, embrace the mystery and celebrate the wins - I’m excited to dig into the grey areas of life with my NEW guests and you. Can’t wait!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
BONUS: ADHD and the hormone house of cards | Dr Greg Finucane
In this bonus episode of Grey Areas, we bring you the full interview with neuropsychiatrist Dr Greg Finucane for episode 1 of this season, ‘When ADHD meets perimenopause’. A conversation that turned out to be unexpectedly emotional – and incredibly clarifying.
We talk about why so many women, including me, are getting diagnosed with ADHD in midlife, and how perimenopause can cause the carefully s
A relational world - Part 2 | Dame Anne Salmond
In part two of my conversation with Dame Anne Salmond, we go deeper - into wānanga (the meeting of ideas), into te ao Māori (Māori worldview), and into the kind of thinking that could help us live better together.
Dame Anne speaks about her decades-long relationship with her Māori mentors, Eruera and Amiria Stirling, and how those relationships rewired her understanding of the world. We talk abou
A relational world - Part 1 | Dame Anne Salmond
In this first part of our kōrero, I sit down with Dame Anne Salmond—a thinker whose mind is vast, and whose heart is very much rooted in the soil of Aotearoa. Dame Anne is an anthropologist, writer, and one of our most decorated scholars, but what shapes her most is relationship - whakapapa, whenua, and whānau.
We start where all good conversations should: at the kitchen table. Dame Anne tells me
Your body’s not betraying you - it’s whispering | Dr Libby Weaver
In this episode I sit down with biochemist Dr Libby Weaver, a nutritionist, speaker, and author of 13 books (soon to be 14). Libby brings a holistic lens to wellbeing, combining science, nutrition, and emotional insight in a way that’s both practical and also deeply human.
We explore the gap between what we know and what we do, and why that gap exists. Libby unpacks the power of belief systems –
Public scrutiny & personality types | Amanda Luxon
In this episode, I sit down with Amanda Luxon. Amanda is a former teacher, Myers-Briggs coach, lifelong learner – and yes, the ‘First Lady’ of New Zealand.
Our conversation isn’t about politics (though it inevitably comes up), but about difference, understanding, and friendship – because even though in many ways we’re chalk and cheese, we’ve been friends for years.
We first connected over our sh
Breaking silence - you’re not alone | Ali Mau
In this latest episode I am joined by acclaimed journalist and author Ali Mau, who’s new memoir, No Words for This, has just hit shelves.
This powerful and vulnerable conversation covers Ali’s experiences with childhood sexual abuse, the life-changing phone call from her sister and her journey to speaking publicly.
We also delve into complex family dynamics and the significant power of knowing
Love, grief & Alzheimer’s | Michael Hurst + Jennifer Ward-Lealand
In this episode we delve into the captivating love story of legendary actors Michael Hurst and Jennifer Ward-Leland, whose "showmance" has blossomed into a beautiful partnership spanning over four decades.
Michael and Jennifer open up about their personal lives, sharing heartwarming memories (such as the excitement of buying their first Toyota), and reflecting on their rich experiences in the wor
Captain of the ship - leadership, mentorship & friendship | Raelene Castle + Debt Free Diva with Generate
In this episode, I sit down with Raelene Castle, a trailblazer in sports management as the first female CEO of Netball New Zealand and now the CEO of Sport New Zealand and High Performance Sport New Zealand.
We discuss her trajectory in the corporate and sporting worlds, her upbringing in a sport-centric family, and the importance for her of finding confidence through activity.
Raelene shares
Music, motherhood and moving halfway round the world | Nadia Reid
I'm stoked to sit down with Nadia Reid, who recently released her fourth album, Enter Now Brightness. Our conversation meanders through the various stages of her life – from a futon in Auckland’s Devonport to the bustling cityscapes of Manchester, via the chill vistas of Dunedin.
As we go, we look at how these places have shaped Nadia, her transformative experience of motherhood, and how the even
When ADHD meets perimenopause | Petra & friends (with special guest Dr Greg Finucane)
What does happen when ADHD meets perimenopause? Neuropsychiatrist Dr. Greg Finucane joins us to help untangle this growing connection.
Recently, I have found myself navigating the surprising emotions and 'aha!' moments that can accompany an ADHD diagnosis. It was like the jigsaw puzzle of my life found some lost pieces, giving me a clearer picture of how I fit together and fit into the world.
My
Season 7 kicks off March 6th!
Kia ora e hoa mā! I'm Petra Bagust and Grey Areas is back for season 7, and I have to say I'm so excited for this season.
You know how sometimes you just have a good feeling about things?
And look, something I've learned from our conversations is that life rarely fits into tidy boxes. It spills over the edges, it surprises us, it challenges what we thought we knew, and that's where most of the
Let’s end cervical cancer in Aotearoa | Dr Bev Lawton
Join me as I sit down with the delightful Professor Bev Lawton, a trailblazing advocate for women's health, who shares her insights into menopause, cervical cancer prevention and endometriosis. From her early days as a GP in Newtown, Wellington, Bev highlights the importance of evidence-based knowledge and the need for a stronger focus on women's health.
Bev brings such warmth and optimism to the
Rethinking fitness and hormones | Dr Stacy Sims + Financial fitness with Generate
Fresh from a work out Dr Stacy Sims joins me for a deep dive into the specific ways women need to move our bodies as we age.
A trailblazer in the science of female physiology, Stacy challenges the traditional ‘calories in, calories out’ mindset – why it can be counterproductive and how popular fitness trends often ignore the distinct needs of women, especially through perimenopause and menopause!
When friends are whānau | Suzanne Lynch, Tina Cross + Jackie Clarke (The Lady Killers)
Today I’m joined by three extraordinary and radically different women who consider each other family. Each in a different decade of life – their 50s, 60s, and 70s – Jackie Clarke, Tina Cross, and Suzanne Lynch have performed together for the past two decades as The Lady Killers, and they’re still going strong.
Fresh off their DIVAS! tour to sold out venues around New Zealand, we sit down to discu
Making friends with my body - good friends! | Dr Hillary McBride
In this episode, I sit down with psychologist, author, and menopause researcher Dr Hillary McBride to explore what it means to truly come home to our bodies - to treat them like a best friend. Hillary’s work spans critical topics like trauma, eating disorders, and women's health, with a particular focus on menopause as a transformative experience.
Through her books, The Wisdom of Your Body and
Petra introduces the Parents We've Met podcast
Buckle in for an uplifting conversation filled with laughter and wisdom! Petra Bagust is the host of popular rova podcasts Grey Areas and Sunday Sanctuary, a radio personality and TV presenter, a media chaplain, mum to three young people and all-round wonderful wāhine.
In this episode, Petra shares candidly how she has approached the highs and lows of motherhood with grace for herself, and the m
Diving into the wreck: on mermaids, motherhood and midlife | Megan Dunn
The tide is rising toward Megan’s 50th birthday, and we surf the currents of childhood memories to uncover how mermaids, like the best stories, delight us with their symbolic depth.
We reflect on my relationship with my mother, navigating the murky waters between closeness and independence. Megan shares how her mother transformed into an exuberant grandmother, becoming a lighthouse guiding her to
Bullies, blood and battlegrounds | Susie Ferguson
There were three things Susie Ferguson was never going to do; climb Mt Everest, run a marathon or write a book.
However a serendipitous podcast interview with my good friend Frank nudged her to capture her experiences as a war correspondent, radio journalist and woman - the result is "Bloody Minded."
Susie shares her experiences of being bullied and even publicly shamed by a teacher while navig
Nourishing the whole self | Nici Wickes
I sit down with the delightful Nici Wickes, a beloved cookbook author with a talent for making culinary adventures accessible and joyful, as she shares her wisdom on no-fuss cooking, building confidence in and out of the kitchen, and her latest book ‘More from A Quiet Kitchen.’
We tackle body image and health, confronting societal expectations, and shifting our focus from our appearance to our we
From breakdown to breakthrough | Paddy Gower
Join us for the first episode of Grey Areas Season 6 as we sit down with award-winning journalist, doco-maker and loveable rogue Patrick Gower to discuss his unfiltered memoir, This Is the F#$%ing News.
In this candid conversation, Paddy gets vulnerable about the toxic cocktail of alcoholism, bullying and work addiction that brought about a mental breakdown – and would ultimately lead him to embr
Season 6 kicks off on Thursday 3rd October!
Kia ora! I'm Petra, and welcome to Grey Areas, back for its sixth season. We're diving deep into the conversations that matter—those tricky, often unspoken topics that can powerfully shape our lives.
Throughout this season, I sit down with incredible New Zealanders who aren't afraid to tackle the tough stuff. We explore subjects like endometriosis, our complex relationships with our bodies, singl
The marks that make us | Jenny-May Clarkson + Dean Clarkson
Getting up at stupid-o’clock every weekday morning to perform in front of the nation requires a certain type of strength and stamina. Add perimenopause to the pressure cooker of live television and you’ve got yourself a potent cocktail of challenges.
Part of Jenny-May Clarkson’s secret is the dynamic partnership she’s forged with her husband Dean. In this episode they share the story of their sec
Otherhood: Life outside of motherhood | Kathryn van Beek + Lil O’Brien
Having children and becoming a mother is a huge part of our collective cultural script. When you’re single, the question is ‘when are you going to find someone?’ When you find someone, the question becomes ‘when are you having children?’
So what about the many women who don’t have children, either by choice, circumstance or because they’re unable to?
Otherhood is a newly published book of essays
Ducking perfectionism and the upside of failure | Dr Jin Russell
In a culture of unhealthy comparison and burdensome perfectionism, how do we cultivate an openness to getting it wrong? … Like, really get down and dirty with failure and understand how necessary it is for growth and basically learning anything at all.
Dr Jin Russell’s intimidating bio reads like the ultimate perfectionist’s achievement list. She’s a Consultant Developmental Paediatrician at Star
How women are catching the investing bug | Victoria Harris + Kirstien Taylor
The world of investing has long been dominated by men, but did you know that the women who do invest typically do better than their male counterparts?
Honestly, it’s never been easier with the technology now available to us, so let’s figure out what positive action we can take because the good news is it’s never too late to get amongst it.
Victoria Harris is passionate about women taking control
Discovering difference: celebrating neurodiversity and ADHD | Sonia Gray
There are moments in time where issues that have lurked in the shadows reach a tipping point and break into the public consciousness. Now is such a time for neurodiversity and ADHD. We are ready for healthier, more embracing conversations about how different brains work.
TV presenter and actor Sonia Gray is on a quest to make life better for neurodiverse children and their families since her own
Using creativity to unlock joy | Selina Tusitala Marsh
Open a refreshing window to the world of creativity with Dr. Selina Tusitala Marsh as we riff on creativity and poetry. Turns out you don’t have to give it up after high school.
Selina, an accomplished poet, academic, and illustrator, shares profound insights and captivating tales from her journey, which includes becoming NZ’s official poet (aka Poet Laureate), an unconventional marriage break up
Investing now for our golden years | Judy Bailey
Hot on the heels of launching her new book Evolving, Judy Bailey sat down with Petra to talk all things ageing.
At 72 years old, Judy has a sparkle that's infectious. Her credentialed career as a journalist, along with her natural curiosity and sense of fun make her an ideal guide to navigate the landscape of ageing, and explore the latest research on how to do it well.
It’s exciting to hear tha
Love in midlife and menopause | Niki Bezzant + Meg Cowan
We're kicking off Season 5 with our LIVE recording of a fun and fascinating panel discussion tackling pleasure, intimacy, and love in midlife and menopause with writer Niki Bezzant and relationship coach Meg Cowan.
Niki Bezzant is a trained journalist whose book This Changes Everything: the honest guide to menopause and perimenopause has, for thousands of New Zealanders, shed light on the oddly o
Season 5 is coming Thursday 18th April!
Kia ora! Petra here and we’re getting ready for Season 5!
5 feels like a milestone… off to school and all that, growing up literally - thanks for coming on this journey with me - hasn’t it been fun and also fascinating!?!
We have built up quite the collection of stories and questions to travel with us into our next season - hopefully with more compassion, humour and courageous can-do. Let’s ke
Summer Series: Kate Rodger talks dating and menopause, going to the cinema and the power of vulnerability
Film reviewer extraordinaire Kate Rodger joins Grey Areas for another laugh-filled chat about stepping outside of her ‘lane’, dealing with feelings of overwhelm, and the progress she's making on her personal goals.
Kate brings her trademark humour and wildly generous way with words to a conversation about new challenges, making time for what’s important, and never being afraid to have a good ol’
Summer Series: Robert Rakete on front-footing his health, ageing authentically and keeping the romance sparkle alive
Iconic broadcaster Robert Rakete returns to Grey Areas, joining Petra for a candid and uplifting kōrero.
Robert has been discovering more of his whakapapa as he continues to learn Te Reo Māori, and shares his love of embracing the beginner's mind, facing fears and embracing failure.
Plus Robert catches Petra up on his recent prostate check-up! 👀
If you want to hear more scintillating stories fr
Summer Series: Miriama Kamo talks turning 50, falling off the sugar wagon, and Menopausal Hormone Therapy
Two years on from her first Grey Areas appearance, Petra catches up with journalist and TVNZ's Sunday host Miriama Kamo as she's rounded out her fifth decade.
Turning 50 can invite introspection and casting new vision for your life. Miriama grabs this opportunity with both hands sharing the raft of intentions she has for this season from getting braces to studying te reo Māori.
In the midst of g
BONUS: Annie Crummer and Betty-Anne Monga chat about their Auckland Arts Festival event Hear Me Roar!
Annie Crummer and Betty-Anne Monga along with Julia Deans and Boh Runga will be forming a powerhouse ensemble at this year's Auckland Arts Festival performance, Hear Me Roar! on March 8.
Annie and Betty-Anne joined me for a korero all about creativity, collaboration and purpose.
We riff on the power of music to accompany us through every season - the summers and winters of life. Music offers us
BONUS: A kōrero about our bone health
Add to your kete of understanding our bone health with this kōrero with Christine Gill, Executive Director of Osteoporosis New Zealand.
The life cycle of these living tissues from birth to menopause and beyond is fascinating. Christine talks us through the process of bone turnover, the often misunderstood osteoporosis, the importance of achieving maximum bone strength by age 30, and the myriad f
The magic of female friendships | Kiri Nathan and Stacey Morrison
The magic of female friendships is pretty undeniable - as is the role they play in shaping us. Join us for an inspiring kōrero with long-time BFFs, broadcaster Stacey Morrison and fashion designer Kiri Nathan, who have been the epitome of friendship for over 25 years.
From their first meeting at the Smoke-Free Fashion Awards to navigating marriages, children, and their respective careers, their j
The power of backing yourself | Irene van Dyk
What does it take to become a legendary netball player? What's the journey like, and how does finding a new identity in a foreign land shape your life and an illustrious sporting career spanning over 20 years? Join me this episode for a kōrero with iconic netballer and Silver Fern, Irene Van Dyk.
We hear about her experience as an immigrant athlete in New Zealand, her experience with the media, a
Hairy Areas: A head to toe audit | Charlotte Cook
Here's something a little special - a crossover episode with Charlotte Cook of RNZ's Hair and Loathing!
Join us as we embark on a head to toe exploration of our relationships with hair - both on our heads and our bodies. Charlotte and I take a visit to Stephen Marr's salon for a kōrero over haircuts, we chat at my whare, and we also catch up with a few of you out on the streets of Tāmaki Makaurau
Crashing the old boys' club of sports journalism | Suzanne McFadden
Ready for a hearty conversation with a trailblazer in women's sports journalism? We welcome Suzanne McFadden, an acclaimed sports journalist who's been championing women's sports in a male-dominated field.
Suzanne's grit and determination have not only helped her break barriers but also led her to establish Locker Room, a platform dedicated to showcasing women's sports. She's also a Silver Sister
You're not alone: A conversation about vulval skin health | Dr Harriet Kennedy
Ever wondered if you need to see your GP because you're experiencing discomfort or itching on your vulva? You're not alone. It turns out that vulval skin conditions are incredibly common and women in Aotearoa New Zealand suffer for an average of 10 years before working up the courage to see a doctor. We've got to change that! After all, skin is skin. So let's yarn about vulval skin health.
The kn
Navigating the big stuff of life | Paula Penfold
Family grief, the devastation of divorce, cross-generational friendships, learning Te Reo Māori and more - we talk about it all with Stuff journalist, Paula Penfold. We also discuss the challenges of the media world, the aftermath of job redundancy, and the importance of self-care in such a fast-paced profession.
Paula opens up about her experience with perimenopause (and that one conversation we
Be kind to your mind | Julia Grace
It's Mental Health Awareness Week here in Aotearoa New Zealand so we chat with mental health speaker and educator and Tui-award winning artist, the talented Julia Grace.
In this conversation, Julia openly shares her struggles with heartbreak and its accompanying disorientation, depression, and anxiety. We chat about recognising our coping mechanisms and the importance of compassion when looking b
BONUS: May I introduce you to a friend this Mental Health Awareness Week?
It's Mental Health Awareness Week here in Aotearoa, New Zealand and so I'd like to take the opportunity to introduce you to a podcast called A Moment With.
A Moment With is hosted by my friend Gen Mora, Co-Founder and General Manager of Voices of Hope, a not-for-profit organisation aimed to break the stigma around mental illness.
In this podcast, Gen sits down with incredible individuals who hav
Fighting stereotypes and feeling unnecessary | Dame Susan Devoy
In this episode, we have a kōrero with squash champion and former Race Relations Commissioner, Dame Susan Devoy (also of Celebrity Treasure Island fame!).
We discuss her fight against stereotypes, the complexities of gender dynamics, and also touch on the influence of sports as a universal language and a powerful tool for fostering greater cultural understanding. Susan is a tenacious leader!
But
Slaying life with Type 1 Diabetes and ADHD | Anika Moa
Welcome to our brand new season of Grey Areas! Can you believe we're already at Season 4?! And who better to kick it off with than the multi-talented, one and only Anika Moa. She's a māmā, a singer/songwriter, television presenter, radio host, all-round resilient wahine toa.
Join us as we delve into Anika's world as she openly discusses her struggles with type 1 diabetes, depression, and the impa
Season 4 is coming Thursday, 7th September!
Kia ora. Petra Bagust here, and I have been thinking a bit about what makes up the ‘grey areas’ of our lives, because I think that’s a huge part of why this podcast works.
To me, a ‘grey area’ is a tricky space. A delicate space. A space that can bring, maybe discomfort or discouragement, or cause isolation.
Maybe a 'grey area' is something that has been talked about using ‘you should’ or ‘you o
BONUS: Sunday Sanctuary | The Miracle of the Mundane
Kia ora! I hope you are going well. Don't panic - Season 04 of Grey Areas is on the way (I promise!)
While we are between seasons, I want to share another episode from my other podcast, Sunday Sanctuary.
This one is called The Miracle of the Mundane and it's all about finding joy and wonder within the everyday-ness of life.
If this is something you'd like to hear more of, join the Sunday Sanc
Embracing lifelong learning | Jennifer Ward-Lealand
Join me for the final episode of Grey Areas Season 03, where I am joined by renowned actress Jennifer Ward-Lealand, as we traverse her four-decade long journey in the world of theatre, film, and TV. Jennifer shares with us how a series of epiphanies and following her heart set her firmly on her path to becoming an actor.
Listen in as Jennifer takes us on her personal journey of learning and commi
Untangling our relationship with booze | Lotta Dann
I sat down with the incredible Lotta Dann to unpick the tangled web of our relationship with alcohol. From the tricky task of moderation to the deeper complexities of addiction, Lotta and I unshroud the often unspoken battle with the bottle.
As we both navigate the challenging season of perimenopause, we reflect on the importance of mindfulness and finding the ‘sweet spot’ when it comes to conten
The privilege of ageing | Pio Terei
Broadcaster, entertainer and my brother-from-another-mother Pio Terei joins me for a conversation about the privilege it is to age - because not everyone gets to.
We talk about where he's at with his journey of grief following the loss of his son Teina in 2016, the role curiosity plays in ageing well, as well as swap stories on our intergenerational living set-ups. As serious as we tried to be, p
Making your mark | Dame Noeline Taurua
Netball legend Dame Noeline Taurua is an absolute wahine toa. Dame Noeline's been a member of the Silver Ferns since the 90s - first as a player, then again as assistant coach and now as head coach since 2018.
She is widely recognised as one of the greatest coaches of the sport.
Dame Noeline joins Petra for a look back at the triumphs and tricky parts of her life and career that have brought her
Unforeseen grief | Tatiana Hotere
Brazilian-born actor and playwright Tatiana Hotere joins Petra Bagust for a poignant conversation about navigating the sudden loss of her husband Jason six years ago.
Tatiana shares how debilitating her grief could be at times, a profound way she discovered to navigate those waves of grief, and the complications of grieving in community.
Tatiana's play Skin Hunger was written as a way to proces
Feeling comfy in your own skin | Laura McGoldrick
Broadcaster, radio host and Sky Sport presenter Laura McGoldrick joins me for a conversation about loving the bodies we have.
When she was a young girl, Laura tragically lost her cousin to a rare form of skin cancer, and years later her father-in-law, Peter Guptill, also passed away from melanoma. In this episode Laura and I talk about caring for our miraculous and marvellous skin, but then we g
Māori wisdom on periods you didn’t know you needed | Michele Wilson
Michele Wilson (Tainui, Ngāti Paoa) is the founder and CEO of AWWA Period Care, a female-founded indigenous-owned business providing washable, reusable period underwear.
While the business was born out of traditional Māori wisdom and practices surrounding ikura (periods), Michele did not grow up having an understanding of these. In this kōrero Michele talks about her journey to embrace and reclai
Winning in your 50s | Michèle A'Court ONZM
Kicking off Season 3, I'm delighted to welcome this absolute legend of New Zealand comedy, Michèle A'Court ONZM. (How fun that we can now put those big important letters after her name?!)
Whilst I'm only at the start of my 50s, Michèle's just put them in her rear view mirror. I wanted to glean some wisdom for this upcoming decade, and have a tonne of laughs while we're at it, so who better to cha
Season 3 is coming Thursday, 25 May!
Kia ora e hoa mā! After six whole months, I am so excited to finally be back with you with another season of Grey Areas.
Season 3 drops in a week on Thursday, 25 May and I hope you'll join me again for more kōrero with wonderful humans about those trickier parts of getting older.
This season we chat with the delightful Michele A'Court about winning in your 50s, my mate Pio Terei about the privi
BONUS: Introducing Sunday Sanctuary | Messy Motherhood
Kia ora! I have missed you. Exciting times - Season 03 of Grey Areas is dropping next week!
It's been a whole six months since Season 02 and while we've been working away at this next season, I've also been up to a little something else called Sunday Sanctuary.
It started as a live radio show on Sunday mornings on Today FM and ran for six whole weeks before the demise of the station meant it w
BONUS: I joined my mate Asher on his new show Pod-Heads
Just wanted to pop in to say hi... and thanks for all the beautiful feedback on Season 2 of Grey Areas!
I joined my mate Asher on his new show Pod-Heads and thought I'd share a snippet of that kōrero with you.
You can listen to the full episode on the Pod-Heads feed over at https://linktr.ee/podheads
Support the show: https://greyareas.nz/support
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The edges of menopause | Kate Rodger + Lara Briden
In this episode we look a little more intently at the ill-defined edges of perimenopause - those bumpy borders on the way in and out - and how we can find support in those tricky transitions.
First up, I'm delighted to welcome back to the show Lara Briden, whose wealth of experience and knowledge combined with her encouraging tone is a cool and soothing balm to so many hot-flush-addled women (mys
