Kiwi Yarns

Dr Morgan Edwards is not only a Specialist Anesthetist at Waitematā DHB and a women's health advocate, in the early stages of the pandemic she made a decision that she would play a role in helping get the right, accurate and crucial information out there via her Instagram page. In a time where misinformation is extremely dangerous and yet so rife, Morgan's calm and considered approach on social me...

Kia ora and welcome to another year of Kiwi Yarns! I’m so stoked to spend 2022 talking to more wonderful New Zealanders, and the first guest of the year is no exception. Olivia Shivas is the very talented digital producer at Stuff (although she has JUST taken on a new role which we hear all about) - who late last year took out the ACC Supreme Award at the Attitude Awards. This was for her brillian...

Today’s guest is Riley Hemson - a wonderful young businesswoman from Wellington who now lives on the Gold Coast and is carving out a huge career as a clothing designer and model for some of the biggest brands in the world. Riley - or @healthychick101 as she is known to her over 400-thousand followers on Instagram - is someone who has used social media for good. She's playing a such an important ro...

From Palmerston North City to New York City... Maia Cotton is only 22-years old but I told her she could easily write a book of all the interesting things that have happened in her life already. Making the move to New York at 18, her modelling career took off and resulted in her walking in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Maia's super honest about the good and the bad of modelling, and how it h...

Emma Twigg personifies a never give up attitude and we all were witness to that when she won Gold at the Tokyo Olympics. I'm pretty sure most of us cried when she crossed the finish line, because we felt the heartbreak she'd had with a fourth in London and another fourth in Rio. And this time, she'd done what she always knew she could do. A champion rower with an amazing story about how it all wen...

We're chatting to filmmaker Ollie Lucks, who has just released his doco/fly-on-the wall film There’s No I in Threesome. Ollie also stars in this as it's a true story about him and his fiancée, and their decision to open up their relationship and share their exploration of polyamory in the build up to their wedding.  Polyamory specifically refers to people who have multiple romantic relationships a...

Tegan Yorwarth is a bright young radio star who is destined for big things. She's one third of the brilliant Mai FM Morning Crew and she’s already a wonderful role model for young women - simply through her relatability, her honesty, her presence, not to mention she’s extremely talented. A lovely chat with a stunning gal! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is a remarkable young man with an incredible story. Abbas Nazari was just seven-years old when he and his family fled the Taliban in Afghanistan - and experienced a journey that would last for months - including being stuck onboard the Tampa. This was the boat that Australia horrifically turned its back on resulting in an international stand off 20 years ago. Abbas and his family wer...

We're lucky enough to have "Palmerston North's funny girl" with us today! Enter the hilarious and delightful comedian Laura Daniel - who lights up any screen or stage she graces.  We walk about those first few gigs - including getting heckled by her dad. And, a really awesome love story between her and her fiancé AND comedian partner Joseph Moore.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone...

Matthew Saville and I recorded our first episode way back in August when he was JUST about to release his first feature length film Juniper. And, well, we all know what happened in August (Delta came) which meant his release date was postponed. So we thought we’d catch up again seeing as August feels like ten years ago, to chat about this amazing film I thoroughly enjoyed. Matthew has worked exten...

Today’s guest is the extremely talented Makeup Artist Michael Ashton - a Kiwi with skills that are so world class, he’s got a quite a few famous clients. One of them being Adele. Yes I said Adele. And I think that word on its own says it all really. So, we’ll find out about how THAT eyeliner came to be and whether Michael can help me become friends with Adele too... Learn more about your ad choice...

I've been hanging out to chat with investigative journalist and documentary maker David Farrier for a while now, so this big long decent yarn, best dissected with a long walk or maybe even a nice drink (or both haha). From his hilarious TV3 sign off from back in the day, to chasing Mongolian Death Worms, interviewing Colin Craig in the sauna, to now spending a lot of time looking into conspiracy t...

Today’s guest Joe Daymond, a delightful young man who hails from Wainuiomata. He’s smart, he’s bloody funny and Joe is basically taking on everything - which is awesome to watch unfold. When he’s not selling out stand up comedy gigs, or featuring on Celebrity Treasure Island, he’s making an amazing show called Bouncers, for Comedy Central and Sky UK. Pretty epic for someone who has only been in th...

WARNING: This episode discusses suicide and mental illness. It’s an absolute honour to speak to today’s guest - the 2021 Young New Zealander of the Year, Jazz Thornton. Jazz is a Mental Health activist, a TV and Film director, an author, not to mention a beautiful young woman who puts her heart and soul into everything she does. She is a shining light of hope in New Zealand, and she shares that li...

Honestly, if you don’t walk away from today’s episode with a cup so full it’s overflowing, I’ll give you your money back (lol). Seriously though, this young woman is such a beautiful soul, an amazing role model and someone pretty brave to open up and share her story - the good, the bad, the funny and the sad. Jess Quinn has achieved so much, and can now add book author to her long list of awesomen...

We have two guests who are multi-sport legends. Simone Maier (2x Coast to Coast Longest Day Winner) and Emily Wilson (2019 GODZone winner with Simone) have had their fair share of success in endurance and adventure racing - their mental toughness, grit and determination is very inspiring. How cool then, that Simone and Emily have decided to pass on all their knowledge and experience to others - pa...

Today’s guest is the remarkable young woman Siobhan Terry, and I think we’ll all have to keep an eye on her as she’s destined for big things. Siobhan has just featured on the global stage as part of a series called “We The 15”, which is sport’s biggest ever human rights movement to end discrimination. It aims to transform the lives of the world’s 1.2 billion people with disabilities who represent...

Today’s guest is a very special young woman called Lizzie McKay who works at Cystic Fibrosis New Zealand. Lizzie is about to embark on "Sweatember" which is all about challenging Kiwis to commit to any sweaty activity throughout the month of September to get fit and raise money for New Zealanders living with cystic fibrosis. Lizzie herself has been living with CF since she was born, she's just cel...

Today’s guest is world champion mixed martial artist Michelle Montague. An amazing story about how she literally discovered MMA on YouTube - and is now traveling the world representing her country! Michelle grew up on a farm in Matamata, has played rugby since she was four and almost became a police officer. A really fascinating chat about the strength, discipline and training it takes to be a wor...

This episode is a bit different. It is still a great New Zealander, there’s no two ways about that. Today’s guest is Dr Nikki Turner, director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre, an academic General Practitioner and an Associate Professor in the Division of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Auckland. Dr Nikki Turner is here to talk about the COVID Vaccine. I, like many, have...

Matt Brown is the man behind the powerful and vital movement, She Is Not Your Rehab. He's just released a book of the same name. Matt openly shares his own experiences of family violence and childhood sexual abuse in the book, but also in public talks and at his world famous barbershop, My Fathers Barbers in Christchurch. Matt is playing a major role in trying to stop the cycle of domestic violenc...

Today’s guest is one of my favourite Kiwi actors, and I think it would be fair to say anyone around my age who grew up watching Shortland Street every night in the 90s with Claire Chitham playing the wonderful Waverley would have a similar fondness! The loveable actress talks how she gets into her roles, the cool thing she did when she turned 40, and how she's helping others, after years of battli...

Today’s guest is one of the most remarkable athletes we have here in New Zealand.  If I were to list or read out Nathan Fa’avae’s achievements over the years, we would actually run out of time to speak to him! In short, he’s one of the greatest endurance athletes in the world. And when I say endurance, I mean races that last for DAYS. Nathan and his teammates have won six Adventure Racing World Ch...

A cool, funny, smart, awesome woman who talks money/finance AND makes it relatable AND interesting AND easy to understand. She is Frances Cook and she's the host of the podcast, Cooking the Books, a columnist for the NZ Herald and the author of Tales From A Financial Hot Mess. She is awesome. Thank you Frances for all the valuable bits of advice I got from this! Learn more about your ad choices. V...

Today’s guest is a lycra legend! A five-time Olympian, a World and Commonwealth Games Champion and someone who was at the top of both track and road cycling for 20 years. Greg Henderson has achieved success on his bike all over the world - but since retiring from professional cycling, he still can’t quite keep away - now devoting his time to make other awesome cyclists like him as Coach Hendy. Gre...