MindYourTone

JiJi Aligno is a Filipino-born guitarist, music educator, nurse, and member of Wellington metal bands Dark Divinity, Scorn of Creation, and funk band Culture Embassy. In this episode, Jiji shares his journey from growing up on punk and metal in the Philippines to building a life in New Zealand and becoming part of the local underground music scene. We talk about discovering Metallica and Megadeth,...

In this episode, I sit down with Duane Frew from Hades Drudge to talk about the underground NZ metal scene, growing up as a metalhead in Whanganui, and what it’s really like playing in DIY bands across New Zealand. We get into everything from discovering Sepultura and Slayer as teenagers, playing shows at Wellington venues like Valhalla, surviving mosh pits, recording albums independently, and dea...

Joshua, guitarist and songwriter for Bulletbelt, shares his personal journey from discovering heavy music in a small New Zealand town to shaping the evolution of one of the country’s prominent metal bands. In this candid interview, Joshua chats about his early influences, the transformation of Bulletbelt’s sound, and the realities of life as a working musician. He also offers a behind-the-scenes l...

After a bit of radio silence… 🎙️ Turns out the podcast wasn’t gone. Just… buffering. Hiatus officially over. New episodes coming. You may have noticed we have a new podcast name! This fits the agenda on future episodes. #PodcastIsBack #BackOnTheMic #PodcastLife

What glues together the true NZ bogan identity? Spoiler alert: it’s more than flannel shirts and burnt rubber—it’s an unwavering dedication to heavy metal music (and maybe a few suspiciously loud Friday nights). In this episode, Dr. Matt Crawford unpacks why the NZ bogan identity is about family, belonging, and cranking up heavy metal music until the neighbours beg for mercy. We explore how owning...

🎙️ BOGANS, BIAS & BLACK SABBATH | Dr. Matt Crawford on Mental Health, Stereotypes & Why Bogan Identity Matters We’re in New Zealand —home of sheep, world-class rugby, epic landscapes… and the bogan. Yeah, the bogan . You’ve heard the word. Maybe you’ve lived it. But what does it really mean? In this episode, we chat with Dr. Matt Crawford , senior psych lecturer and metalhead, about how bo...

What do you get when you cross a Pantera fan, a battle vest, and a therapy room? You get Richard — the most unexpected New Zealand therapist you’ll ever meet. Forget soft piano music and polite nodding. This New Zealand therapist walks in with a beanie, band patches, and a full bogan grin. He’s not your usual counsellor. He’s a metal head counsellor , and proud of it. Richard’s not just smashing s...

Ever met a therapist who listens to Pantera, rocks a battle vest, and casually drops mental health wisdom between metal gigs? Meet Richard — a full-on New Zealand bogan, frontline mental health worker, and proud metalhead who’s smashing stereotypes louder than a double kick pedal. 🤘 In this episode, we talk bogan pride, brutal honesty, pirate metal therapy (yes, really), and what it’s like being...

What even is a bogan? In this episode, we don’t just ask the question — we live through the answers. 🎧 Join us in the gritty, hilarious, and honest world of New Zealand’s heavy metal and bogan culture. Featuring Dave, Sam, Jolene, and Hamish, this isn’t about stereotypes — it’s about real people navigating music, labels, mental health, tattoos, and the power of self-expression. Hamish thought he...

🎸 Ever met someone who wears steel-cap boots, loves loud music, and once did a suicide tequila shot (don’t try this at home, kids 😅)? Meet Hamish Blood — a proud New Zealand bogan with a big heart, wild stories, and ADHD superpowers! 🧠⚡ We talk about music, funny party fails, Māori pride, and what it really means to be yourself — even if that means waking up next to a gas station once or twice...

Meet Jolene Tempest – Tattoo Artist, Heavy Metal Singer, and Proud New Zealand Bogan Jolene Tempest isn’t just a tattoo artist—she’s also the powerful voice behind a New Zealand heavy metal band. As a self-described boganette (Female version of bogan), Jolene lives a life that breaks the mold and embraces everything loud, bold, and real. In this interview, Jolene opens up about what it means to li...

🎸💚 As NZ Music Month wraps up, I want to give a massive shoutout to the amazing guests who joined me on the podcast. You brought the riffs, the rhythm, the real talk—and reminded us why local music matters. Here’s to you, you glorious legends:Steve Francis 🤘🎤Steve proved that being an outcast just means you haven’t found your mosh pit yet. Even when metal wasn’t “cool,” he cranked it up anyway...

Get ready to dive deep into the world where bogan culture and heavy metal collide, as we sit down with Sam Sheppard—renowned drummer, audio engineer, and true heavy metal devotee. He is also the front man of a heavy metal band Imperial Slave - hailing from Palmerston North in New Zealand. In this episode, you'll get an insider perspective on what it really means to be a bogan in the heavy meta...

Bogans of New Zealand! In this episode, we talk with Dave Snell, who wrote the book “Bogan - An insiders guide to Metal, Mullets, and Mayhem.” Dave knows a lot about what it means to be a bogan and shares cool stories about growing up loving heavy metal, rock music, and being part of New Zealand’s working class culture. What is a bogan? In New Zealand, “bogan” is a word for someone who likes loud...

Sam's story is a blend of cultures and sounds, having been born in the UK and moving to New Zealand multiple times during his childhood. He takes us back to his early days of musical discovery, listening to his parents' records and feeling a profound connection to The Stranglers and other iconic bands. This episode dives deep into Sam's unique musical path—from piano lessons at the age...

Mark Mundell is a passionate enthusiast of science fiction, video games, and heavy metal music, having developed a love for these interests over time. Fond of immersive gaming experiences, Mark finds joy in being absorbed in fantastical worlds, despite the mixed opinions such games elicit. He also has a penchant for the iconic sounds of Prague rock, particularly enjoying bands like Pink Floyd and...

Nick Granville: Acclaimed Guitarist, Educator & Session Musician Nick Granville is a versatile guitarist, teacher, and session musician who has collaborated with top artists like Dave Weckl, Tony Lindsay (Santana’s singer), Dave Matthews, Chris de Burgh, Ronan Keating, and Delta Goodrem. He has also worked with jazz legends Mike Stern, Joey DeFrancesco, Eric Marienthal, Kurt Elling, and Steve...

In this episode of Kultura Incident , we chat with Nick, a cool musician and art teacher. He's got an amazing story to share! Nick went through some tough times as a kid, including a head injury and having ADHD, but he found his way through art and music. He talked about how he went from feeling confused and different in school to becoming one of the key players of a band called Electric Tapestry....

Meredith, a regional coordinator for Parent to Parent in Wellington. Meredith shares her personal journey as a mother of two boys, both diagnosed with autism, and her professional role in providing support and resources to families with disabled children. She emphasizes the importance of community support, workshops, and specialized information services for navigating the complexities of raising n...

Recaps the most compelling moments from the past year. From Episode 71’s deep dive into heavy metal with Steve Francis of Bullet Belt, to Episode 77’s touching tale of Graeme’s journey parenting four autistic kids, this episode offers insights, emotional stories, and professional growth. Iain's journey of Pathological Demand Avoidance for his son. We also revisit Ben Mulchin's transition from scie...

This is a clip from The Takiwātanga (Autism) Podcast Today we had a conversation with Graham, a devoted father raising four autistic children alongside his wife, who also recently discovered her own place on the spectrum. Join Graeme as he talked about the complexities of parenting children with diverse needs, discussing everything from early autism detection and intervention strategies to the cri...

Side note 01 Catch up - KI EP 76 Adapting to Change: Embracing Growth and Consistency in Content Creation In today's fast-paced digital landscape, content creators face myriad challenges. From adjusting to unforeseen life events to meeting the demands of constantly evolving algorithms, the journey of content creation is often complex and fraught with difficulties. This blog post delves into the ke...

The "Up the Punks" initiative serves as a vibrant community project that captures the essence of Wellington's punk scene. It collects and preserves the stories, memories, and visuals from those who have been a part of this dynamic subculture. By building a massive online scrapbook, the project not only commemorates the punk movement but also fosters a sense of belonging and shared identity among p...

Dr. Cathal Doyle is a Seniour Lecturer in Information Systems at the School of Information Management, Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand He’s exploring how tools and technologies like generative AI are becoming more than just tools and are starting to work alongside people. He’s also interested in how AI can be used not only to achieve practical goals but also to support more human-cent...

Ben always felt a deep connection to music and live shows, making it a significant part of his life as he traveled and explored places like Valhalla. Initially pursuing a career in science, Ben eventually seized an opportunity to dive headfirst into the music scene at the age of 30. His passion for music and vibrant environments led him to take over a venue, transforming his hobby into a dedicated...