Simon Bridges: Generally Famous

The F#$%ing News flips the script on the news - short, upbeat, inspirational and f%$#ing good fun journalism with the nation’s favourite everyman reporter, Paddy Gower. TFN sees Paddy talking to Kiwis who are the good, the great and the brains of our nation. This podcast is hosted by Paddy Gower and Executive Produced by Jon Bridges. It's made in partnership between Stuff and Believer Media. Learn...

The 'Mountain Warrior' proves the heavyweight champion of Mike Tyson impressions in a knockout chat about life before, during and after his hugely successful boxing career. No punches are pulled as he recalls his country upbringing, his rivalry with David Tua (and how he patched it up) and sparring with Tyson. He also addresses his ADD diagnosis, adjusting to life as a businessman - and whether he...

Sporting legend and former larrikin Matthew Ridge interrupts a family holiday in LA to record a very special 50th episode of Generally Famous. The ex All Black, Kiwi and Warrior weighs up the problems facing New Zealand, recalls life as a primetime TV staple with Marc Ellis, bemoans the treatment of public figures, and explains why family is much more important than wealth. You can watch Matthew R...

Motorsport great Greg Murphy parks up in the Generally Famous studio for a straight-up chat about racing, road safety and why he's happy to keep speaking his mind. The co-host of Sky Speed also explains the legendary Holden vs Ford rivalry and the enduring influence of the Dukes of Hazzard. You can read stories supporting this episode on stuff.co.nz. Need more great podcasts? Check out Stuff's ful...

With an “elder sister” management style, Theresa Gattung became the youngest woman to run a large public company when she took over Telecom aged 37. Since stepping back from fulltime corporate work, she’s focused on philanthropy and entrepreneurship - while continuing to spearhead change for women in business. The trailblazer explains how her father’s groundbreaking attitudes shaped her success, s...

Pax Assadi started working life as a vacuum cleaner salesman. Now he’s hoovering up plaudits as a stand-up comic, TV presenter and creator and star of Sky sitcom Raised by Refugees. Born in Auckland to a Pakistani mum and Iranian dad, he discusses representation in mainstream media, the one country where he’s experienced outright racism, and why the backlash against The Simpsons character Apu was...

Trailblazing business brains and childhood sweethearts Geoff and Justine Ross sold their premium vodka brand 42 Below to Bacardi for $138 million. Now they've swapped "wine and cheesing" in Auckland for running a 6500-hectare sheep and beef farm in Otago. The self-confessed environmental activists and passionate New Zealanders discuss why they took "the harder road", reaction to their Country Cale...

From Dr Love to Dr Loving Life, Shortland Street's sole surviving original reflects on playing Chris Warner for almost three decades. He opens up on the panic attack that marred his return to the show, ageing on set, and "calming the f down" and finding happiness. He also talks his new play, Mannbannd, his love of theatre - and the celebrity he's mistaken for. Mannbannd runs from November 18 to De...

Dr Alia Bojilova is a registered psychologist who worked in the NZ Defence Force, including with members of the SAS, and recently starred alongside Hollywood hardman Vinnie Jones in international reality TV show Tracked. She shares her story of working as a United Nations military observer in Syria, where she and two colleagues were kidnapped, held at gunpoint and told they were going to be decapi...

After early appearances in The Billy T. James Show and Once Were Warriors, Blair Strang became a household name as ambulance driver Rangi Heremaia on Shortland Street. Six years later he quit to complete his legal degree and now juggles family law with acting and running his own theatre company. Beaming in from his Northland home, he discusses how he handled fame in the heyday of Kiwi TV, getting...

Top chef and TV favourite Ben Bayley has returned to his Kiwi roots after almost a decade of culinary discovery in top kitchens across the globe. With a string of highly regarded venues in Auckland and Otago, he's also a regular on our screens. Ben has fronted two series of A New Zealand Food Story, with a third on the way, and The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes, an experiment that saw volunteers...

The 1000th All Black talks frankly about the brutal toll of rugby, life with early-onset dementia and his battles with alcohol. He outlines how the sport should change and recalls the circumstances in which he left to play - and stay - overseas. Oh, and he explains why he doesn't want to ditch his 1992 Nissan Patrol! (Carl also offered his thoughts on New Zealand's Rugby World Cup prospects, but i...

Best known - in Aotearoa at least - for her roles in Outrageous Fortune and its prequel Westside, Antonia chats about her distinguished career and why she's big in Germany. She also offers insight into her royal links and swaps stories with Simon about on-set snack tables. Watch her latest show Double Parked. Listen to her podcast What Matters Most. You can read stories supporting this episode on...

Kiwi comedy icon Dai Henwood drops in to talk about his incredible career and surprising family back-story. Born into a proud Welsh lineage with illustrious forebears, he knew he wanted to make people laugh from a very young age. He talks comedy in Aotearoa, Eastern religion and mindfulness - and how his latest gig on the phenomenon that is Taskmaster NZ gave him a positive focus after he went pub...

Finding himself out of work as Covid decimated the hospitality industry, he decided to create cooking videos packed with tips and tricks to educate and inspire home foodies. Twenty months since posting the first, he has 13 million followers and more than a billion views across multiple platforms. Beaming in from his current home on Australia’s Sunshine Coast, he discusses his “surreal” success, th...

Radio legend Jay-Jay Feeney first graced our airwaves as a teenager and remains an unstoppable force more than three decades on. She shares some highly impressive celebrity encounters and opens up about a life of complex relationships, including with her former partner - on and off air - Dom Harvey. You can read stories supporting this episode on stuff.co.nz. Need more great podcasts? Check out St...

Kylie Bax went from winning a beauty contest in Thames to the catwalks of Milan in a matter of months. Soon she was gracing the cover of every top fashion magazine in the world. She gives Simon a rare insight into life as an elite model - from the hard work involved in getting a break, to hanging out with the A-list. She also talks her second career - breeding and syndicating race horses - and tea...

Kicking off an all-new season of Generally Famous, current affairs kingpin Paddy Gower drops in to discuss his storied career, his new show and how he's changed. He recalls his "absolutely brutal" introduction to TV reporting, reveals his regrets about his time covering Parliament and considers his shifting stance on addiction. Paddy's new show, Paddy Gower Has Issues, is available to stream on Th...

Generally Famous is back soon for another noteworthy season. To make sure you don't miss it, follow Generally Famous wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Legendary children's TV host Suzy Cato (Suzy Cato!) joins Simon Bridges to discuss education in New Zealand, talk career highlights and even sing a song or two. She tears up as she talks about her passion for making children feel safe through her content. Suzy continues to produce a wealth of content for young minds - check it out here. You can read stories supporting this episode on stuff.co.nz....

The creator of wildy successful eco-conscious cosmetics company Ethique drops in to talk animals, leadership styles and what on earth a Nudibranch is. The episode was recorded before Brianne's recent announcement that she was stepping down as chief executive of Ethique. She's now focused on business mentoring with another company she founded, Business but Better. You can read stories supporting th...

Already New Zealand's most successful rally driver, Hayden Paddon is showing no signs of slowing down. He tells Simon about his mission to win at the highest level, the dangers of high-speed racing on rough roads and why non-petrol cars are the future. You can read stories supporting this episode on stuff.co.nz. Need more great podcasts? Check out Stuff's full catalogue here. GET IN TOUCH Feedback...

Francis and Kaiora Tipene are global stars thanks to five seasons of The Casketeers, the reality TV show about their funeral business. They catch up with Simon to talk pies, the pressures of fame, leafblowers - and their own funeral plans. You can read stories supporting this episode on stuff.co.nz. Need more great podcasts? Check out Stuff's full catalogue here. GET IN TOUCH Feedback? Got a guest...

The Chaser is on! Specifically Shaun Wallace, the very first Chaser from global TV mega-hit The Chase. Ahead of his visit to Aotearoa-New Zealand, Simon's first international celebrity guest beams in from his London home to discuss juggling criminal law work and a television career, growing up Black in 1960s Britain, and how he keeps his mind and body healthy. Shaun even agrees to take on Simon in...

Still one of the world's best-known netballers almost a decade after retiring from the international arena, Irene van Dyk grew up in apartheid-era South Africa before moving to Aotearoa in 2000 and becoming one of our most popular athletes. She beams in from her Napier home to tell Simon about her incredible life and career - meeting Nelson Mandela, carrying a gun and overcoming criticism when she...