Kiwi Yarns

Today’s guest is the wonderful Toni Street - and I’m pretty sure it would be fair to say there’s really not much this woman can’t do. She is an incredibly talented TV presenter and radio host, sports commentator, she’s a dab hand in the kitchen, she’s played both cricket and netball at a representative level, and she’s a superstar Mum to her three beautiful children. We have a lovely chat about he...

A warning: this episode will be discussing suicide and mental health issues. Today's episode is with three very special young women in one of the most powerful, brave and important interview's I've ever done. The Cool Change NZ "sisters", Grace Curtis, Tori Wheelans and Georgie Harris say they’ve been brought together by tragedy, but say they hope they can make the most out of their sad situations...

Jacqui Maguire is a registered clinical psychologist, a mental health and wellbeing thought leader, and someone who has the amazing ability to explain all the stuff that’s going on in our heads - from the complicated to the not so complicated - she just gets it.  Jacqui has just released a wonderful new book to help parents and children together. It's called When the Wind Blew: A Book for Little P...

Now I’ve been a big fan of Jodie Rimmer since the early 2000s when she was on "The Strip" - man I LOVED that show! The award-winning actress Jodie is someone who lights up the screen in such a huge variety of roles, resulting in her being a much loved woman here in New Zealand. More recently, she’s been the hilarious narrator on The Bachelor and Bachelorette. Jodie is an absolute delight to chat t...

I am extremely grateful that over the years I’ve worked with some wonderful New Zealanders - and today’s guest is no exception. He’s a kind, caring and hilarious soul who graces our television screens every morning on TVNZ's Breakfast. Matty McLean delivers us our weather with a smile on his face and a warmth you simply can't fake. And my word he tells a GREAT yarn (numerous included in this episo...

Aesha Scott keeps me entertained with her bright, bubbly and refreshingly honest daily life updates on her Instagram stories. But Aesha will also be known by many as the hard-case Kiwi who took centre stage on the highly addictive reality show, Below Deck. She’s recently back from an epic travel journey across the United States in a converted ambulance. Aesha has an extremely positive and amazing...

When I saw today’s guest cross the finish line a few weekends back at the Tarawera Ultramarathon I knew immediately I wanted to talk to her. Ruth Croft smashed the 102 kilometre race (yes, that says 102 kilometres) - with a course record of 9 hours, 21 minutes and 3 seconds. Ruth's running journey is a fascinating one in which she admits over the course of her career she has fallen in and out of l...

Today's guest is beaming in from sunny Nelson. Jessie Cross is someone who has fit quite a lot into her 28 years. She has a background in law and science, working in the legal industry and in social enterprise. But, like many, when Covid hit last year she lost her job. Jessie then set up “The Not so Redundant Club” to support other people who have lost their jobs. She has since completed a yoga te...

Today's guest is Brad Smeele - a legendary world champion wakeboarder, and an extremely talented Kiwi who spent the better part of a decade killing it on the world stage. In 2014, Brad won a global award for “Trick of the Year” for nailing a double tantrum to blind (we will find out about what that is but know it's a big trick) - the first person in the world to do so. But, that very trick would a...

Today's guest is someone who’s played a very significant part in shaping not only my career, but I dare say thousands of journalists around New Zealand. Jim Tully was a graduate in the inaugural year of Canterbury University’s Journalism programme - a programme he would go on to run for 25 years - teaching bright-eyed, excited students who were ready to take on the world. This year, he was honoure...

Chris Parker is a very charismatic, talented and award-winning comedian and actor, and it would be fair to say he was a shining light for many people during New Zealand’s 2020 lockdown 1.0 and 2.0. When we were all stuck in our homes, Chris took to Instagram and basically could nail every type of lockdown character there was - from iso-baking, to at-home travel blogs, even mastering Dr Ashley Bloo...

Today’s guest is a bright, bubbly 24-year old woman I now have the pleasure to call a friend. Georgie Ferris brings a whole new meaning to “living everyday as if it’s your last”, because she is very realistic about the fact that she won’t get as many days as most of us. Everyday, Georgie's body is failing her. She has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and a number of really awful complications brought on by...

Welcome back everyone! I’m so excited to speak to more great New Zealanders this year, and my first guest for 2021 is the wonderful Kristina Cavit, Founder & Director of The Kindness Institute. Kristina is one of those people, who seems to spend most of the hours in her day helping other people. In 2018 she was named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to youth and community, o...

Today’s guest is the wonderful Wendy Petrie - who for the past 14 years has greeted us on our television screens bang on 6pm, on New Zealand's biggest news show, One News. This year, Wendy was very publicly made redundant - and dealt with it in the utmost professional and dignified manner. The superstar journalist, presenter, mother, marathon runner, is always so positive and discusses life withou...

Today’s guest is an athlete I look up to - you know one of those people you watch when they’re racing and you’re just not quite sure how on earth they are moving so ridiculously fast. Hannah Wells is a professional Ironwoman who in 2019 - just her second season as a pro - absolutely annihilated the racing calendar - winning all nine races she started, including the Sunshine Coast, Western Sydney a...

The other day, I saw Laura Douglas on the legendary Kiwi television show Country Calendar and knew straight away that I needed to yarn to her. Laura is a Southern gal, born and raised on a sheep farm in Mossburn. We discuss how she went from living in Auckland for nearly a decade in the corporate world, to packing up her life to move back to the farm. The road to where Laura is now - with her own...

Esekia Perelini has been my Personal Trainer for many years and often doubles as my therapist (haha). He takes his job really seriously and has some really interesting thoughts about what it actually means to be healthy. By his own admission it has certainly evolved over the years as things have happened in his own life. A year ago, a fit and healthy Ese suffered a stroke. We talk about how he rec...

This week's guest is a very dear ex-colleague of mine, Jehan Casinader. We first worked together on Seven Sharp seven years ago, and he is one of the most hard-working journalists I know. His drive, passion and energy for the job always impressed me so much, and he’s never been afraid to tell stories - no matter how hard they are to tell. He’s a multiple award winning journalist, but also a kind,...

This week's guest is a great woman of formidable intelligence and tenacity, who I am very fortunate enough to call my friend and mentor. I remember 7 or 8 years ago when the broadcasting legend that is Ali Mau took the time out of her day to help me learn how to do a piece to camera (when a television reporter speaks directly to the audience through the camera) at TVNZ - a place where Ali worked a...

This week's guest is an absolute ray of sunshine - a smart, funny and talented young woman who always seems to have her foot on the accelerator. Laura McGoldrick is a Kiwi broadcaster who lights up the airwaves on The Hits radio station, and shines on the screen when hosting international cricket, awards ceremonies, you name it, she can do it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...

In the 90s I pretty much watched Angela Bloomfield play Rachel McKenna every night on Shortland Street - she has been an integral part of the show since 1993 and it was extremely interesting hearing how it all started for her, and Ange also shares some pretty big challenges she faced along the way. She's just embarked on a pretty significant career change, becoming a real estate agent. A truly del...

Ben Seymour is a Kiwi entrepreneur based in Sydney who has set up an incredibly successful fitness business. The former professional rugby player spends his time helping others make significant lifestyle changes - making sure people look after their health and wellbeing. Oh yeah - and he does mad crazy long distance things all the time - including the Coast to Coast Longest Day, and the Atacama Cr...

This episode is brought to you by Kiwiherb, who make the highest quality natural health products for you and your family in New Zealand. It’s Naturopathic Medicine Week here - so my guest is pharmacist, herbalist and international lecturer Phil Rassmussen. He is the founder of New Zealand based company Kiwiherb, which specialises in 100% natural, premium quality herbal health products. A really in...

Chlöe Swarbrick - the young woman who ran for Mayor of Auckland at age 22, the young woman who at 23, become the youngest MP in New Zealand for over 40 years at the 2017 election. The young woman who is often reminded about how young she is, especially when she’s surrounded by politicians who are well, old (ok ok not all, but heaps are haha). No matter where your vote is going this election, Chlöe...

It's Mental Health Awareness Week here in New Zealand so a warning: we will be discussing issues around mental health including suicide. My guest is Bryce Casey - a man who has done a remarkable job in this country at opening up about mental health struggles and by doing so has helped drop the stigma around talking about such a complicated issue. He’s also a very funny, talented broadcaster with a...