Kiwi Yarns

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 -...

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...

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...

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...

Today we re-visit my yarn with a NATIONAL TREASURE. Sure, Suzanne Paul was born in England but she is our official infomercial queen. But it’s not just thousands of luminous spheres that make us all love her - her dogged determination and work ethic through every part of her career is so inspirational. Gosh, talk about someone who never ever ever gives up! She's remarkable! Learn more about your a...

Today we re-visit my yarn with the first comedian I ever saw live and rest assured she’s been a favourite ever since! The award-winning Justine Smith took her first gig as a dare - and to sound cliché the rest is history. But, as you'll hear, the rest took time, patience and bloody hard work. She won the Billy T Award in 2003, and has been the winner of the Award for Best Female Performer from the...

Today we re-visit a yarn I had with a man, I feel like it’s fair to say, we all know and love - Sir John Kirwan. JK had a remarkable rugby career as a World Cup winning All Black, played rugby league for the Auckland Warriors, has been a respected international coach, and of course is a major figure in Aotearoa as a mental health advocate. Being one of the first high profile New Zealanders, to tal...

I am absolutely fizzing at the bung to bring you our last guest for 2024! It’s Christmas week, so we are so lucky to have the absolute kitchen QUEEN, Allyson Gofton, here to send us all on our merry way. She hosted the best 60 seconds of television we used to have, Food in a Minute (campaign to bring it back), and the nostalgia in this chat is all there. I was so excited to meet Allyson and to hea...

Pro surfer Billy Stairmand is gearing up for a summer at home with his dog Obie at his beloved Raglan after a massive year of surfing, including competing at the Paris Olympics (in Tahiti). Billy's been on the world stage for 14 years and still has the same energy and love for the sport, describing it as his dream job he's grateful for every day. What's amazing about Billy is he isn't afraid to op...

Today’s guest is, in my opinion, one of the most stylish and sweetest women in Aotearoa. Amber Peebles is a former Miss World New Zealand, television host, and professional make-up artist, and is now the co-owner of luxury homewares company Isle of Omni. Warning: we use the words ooze (well I do) and moist in this podcast - in which if you didn't have a girl crush on Amber before, you absolutely w...

Can you remember the emotion we all went through watching Hayden Wilde's triathlon at the Paris Olympics? Well, be ready to go there again with a fascinating insight into that race. Our top triathlete has had a stonking year and we reflect on all the hard graft it's taken to reach the top. We find out where Hayden's remarkable sportsmanship comes from and how the kid who grew up in Whakatāne got s...

What a ripper of an Olympics it was for Ellesse. The cycling superstar won two golds and a silver in Paris - only the second New Zealander (after Dame Lisa Carrington no less!) to win three medals at a single Games. Hear how she had to fight every step of the way in that brutal week to win. It's an incredible story! Fun fact: Ellesse was born FIFTEEN MINUTES before the year 2000. Learn more about...

David Downs is one of those clever humans who can put lots of interesting words next to his name.  I will list a few for you: he is the CEO of New Zealand Story Group, he is a chairman, he is an ambassador, he is an author, he is a speaker, he is an actor. He is also a genetically modified organism and an ex-comedian - find out what he means by the first with his pretty amazing cancer story, and a...

Today’s guest is award-winning journalist Suzanne McFadden. Suzanne has been monumental in the rise of coverage of women’s sports here in Aotearoa. She is an author, the co-host of the SASS TALK podcast, a wife, a mum, a nanna, a bird stalker and a sunset capturer. We discuss working as the only female sports journalist in a newsroom for over a decade, and how tough it was being a solo mum at the...

Today’s guest is a man who most of the time likes to be behind the scenes.  But, Kyle Bell is responsible for bringing to life some of the country’s best performing and most loved gigs and festivals. The professional party planner is an award winning marketer and entrepreneur, he’s also the unofficial godfather of Rhythm and Vines, and once had high ambitions to be a rockstar himself. A fascinatin...

Ian Jones is one of the country's greatest All Blacks - and this is such a wholesome and inspiring chat about how "The Kamo Kid" came to be such a brilliant rugby player - but also such a great role model and so active in everything he's done since. Kamo is someone who grabs life by the proverbial but also someone who gives a lot back to others.  You'll get a fascinating insight into why the 1995...

There’s not a lot this fantastic young woman hasn’t done - she’s a businesswoman, entrepreneur, a mother, actress, reality star and a champion of women.  Edna Swart is proof that if you want something it’s up to you to get it, and the success of her business ED&i Body is testament to that. Whether you agree or not with everything Edna says, you will absolutely learn something from her - I guarante...

If you enjoyed Brodie and Paddy's yarn this week, then get your ears around Paddy's new podcast. It's called The F#$%ing News and it's all about positive news! This week in the middle of the America’s Cup regatta, Paddy has one question - “what and why is a ‘Cyclor’?” Paddy meets the Brainy Kiwi going global with technology that can predict your health future by using AI to analyse a routine eye e...

This is a bit of a special episode of Kiwi Yarns where Brodie's good pal Paddy Gower comes in and they have a bit of a yarn about their books. Best believe they play two truths and a lie, and see who wins the prize for reading a segment of the other person's book without laughing. There might be a teaser in there for book two, too. But also, they have a bloody good kōrero about Paddy losing his jo...

We have two wonderful women on Kiwi Yarns this week - Lucy Blakiston and Bel Hawkins have just realised their stunning book, Make it Make Sense - a collection of essays, anecdotes, poems and lists. But it's also kind of like a guide to life for women but not, if you know what I mean! And, it's the company you need when you're feeling alone in your thoughts. It's like reading your feelings, and it'...

Today’s guest is award-winning humanitarian photographer and storyteller Helen Manson. The mother-of-four has travelled to more than 47 countries to capture and tell the stories of the world’s most marginalised and vulnerable people in some of the most challenging situations.  Helen has documented famine, refugee settlements, post-war environments, child sponsorship, trauma counselling, and disast...

Today’s guest is one of Aotearoa's favourite chefs, Al Brown (he's definitely one of my favourites).  The joy the fish sliders at Depot bring me, the simple brilliance of the Mean Joe Green Best Ugly Bagel which is compulsory whenever I am at Wellington Airport, and don’t even get me started on the chicken sandwich with chicken crackling at the Fed Deli. Al's story is pretty intriguing. His honest...

This week we have the wonderfully talented and fabulous Morgana O'Reilly. We catch up on what it was like to work on one of the biggest shows in the world, The White Lotus. Morgana talks about how excited she was to take on the role, but how imposter syndrome crept in, how she dealt with it, and how she's feeling about what life will be like when it comes out. It's been a huge year for the actress...

Today’s guest is the most capped All Black in history. Sam Whitelock made 153 appearances in the black jersey, went to four Rugby World Cups, winning two. He played in 181 Super Rugby Games, winning seven Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders. Now, this monumental rugby chapter has closed. It’s beautifully reflected in Sam’s new book, View from the Second Row. We talk about that history-making car...

I cannot tell you how much joy actors Harrison Keefe and Nepia Takuira-Mita bring me every day. In a world where the internet - and in particular social media makes you feel like it’s all falling apart around you - the simple nature of the two lads “Come Vibe with Us” videos, where they stomp their feet and dance to absolute bangers is enough to level you right back out to peace again. Think of it...