Verbal Highs

'Mic Drop Marathon' returns! 26 hosts, 25 guests, one episode. Live from The NZ Podcasting Summit 2026. On the day participants got the prompt 'talk about something you take slightly too seriously', and two minutes to talk about it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So this is what I've been working on since finishing Verbal Highs. It's been a lot of work... enjoy! Just follow Oopsie NZ wherever you get your podcasts. Episode One: The Flag Referendums out now... then new episodes drop fortnightly. Oopsie NZ documentary series about New Zealand ventures that didn’t quite go to plan — five tales of bold ideas, intrepid experiments, naked ambition, and mostly go...

'Mic Drop Marathon' is 26 hosts & 25 guests in 50 minutes, live from The NZ Podcasting Summit 2025. Yes, it's the world record for the most hosts and guests on a single podcast episode. On the day participants got the prompt 'talk about something you know slightly too much about', and two minutes to talk about it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lewis Tennant is a podcast producer, teacher, researcher, journalist, & competitive pinballer. He is the founder & organiser of the NZ Podcasting Summit. Lewis sometimes writes descriptions of himself in the third person. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Devin Abrams is a music producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He was a founding member of Shapeshifter, before leaving the group in 2014. Devin once played basketball with Kanye West. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mazbou Q is a Nigerian NZ hip hop artist, content creator, activist, and educator. Online he’s dubbed ‘The Rap Scientist’ for his analysis of rap flow. Mazbou does not own a lab coat. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welby Ings is an educational reformer, university professor, feature film director, author, teacher, designer, and activist. Until the age of 15 Welby could not read or write. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew Manning is the GM of musical instrument importer Lyn McAllister Music. In 1997 he and six friends co-founded the Kog Transmissions label & studio. Andrew is the Tony Montana of New Zealand ukeleles. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason ‘Rockpig’ Hall is a fuel tanker truck driver, broadcaster, club DJ, live musician, 95 bFM alumni, and family man. He drives a 2019 Kenworth T610 towing a triple axle semi tanker. Jason enjoys having many routes across the North Island. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dean Young is the creator of Studio Stories, a podcast that talks to people behind some of New Zealand’s best-known albums. In a past life, he made one of NZ’s most popular song parodies. Dean once tried to do Homer Simpson in the back of a van. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vishal Vasan is a music and culture promoter, networker and connector, man about town and deejay. His latest label release is a tribute to Fredrik Lager. You will find that release here: https://theelephantrecords.bandcamp.com/album/drw-future-red-astaire-dj-vadim-remixes / Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ant Timpson is a cinephile. He launched The Incredibly Strange Film Festival in 1994 and has a long & varied career in all facets of the film industry. Ant has a distrust of lobster consumers. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Burgess is a London-based chef. His UK career began at Soho House, followed by Gordon Ramsey’s Maze Grill, then Jamie Oliver’s Threadneedle Street. Matt first encountered his father in 2021 via cleaning out a sugar bin. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Evan Short was one half of iconic drum & bass duo Concord Dawn. He now lives in Washington DC with his family, producing and performing as Evan Kiljoy. Evan’s life is not like House of Cards. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam Dudding is an author, journalist, and podcast producer. His podcast portfolio includes Gone Fishing, True Story, Coronavirus NZ, and The Commune. Adam has a problem with underpant openings. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zoë George is a journalist. She hosts Stuff’s sports podcast The Podium, and focusses on telling stories about women, LGBTQI+, and minority communities. Zoë often attends toilet openings with The Honourable Grant Robertson. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manuel Bundy is one of NZ’s pre-eminent DJs, with a long & multifaceted career in music. Pauly Fuemana once told him ‘If I get big, I’ll get you to DJ’. A few years later they were touring the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Riccardo Ball is a music consultant, radio plugger, broadcaster, mentor, and heavy metal vocalist. He was Music Director at The Rock from 2006 to 2014. Riccardo once age shamed Ozzy Osbourne. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jane Yee is The Spinoff’s head of podcasts. She is also known as a TV & radio presenter & producer, with credits including C4, Channel Z, & The Squeeze. When Jane left the telly she had to learn how to dress herself again. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martin Bosley is a celebrated chef, restaurateur, and food pundit. In 2014 he was blindsided when liquidators suddenly seized his restaurant of 13 years. Martin introduced fancy cheese to Port Douglas. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leonard Powell is a pro golf caddie, low budget short film star, broadcaster, journalist, and musician. He is currently a programme producer at RNZ. Leonard travels with an emotional support guitar. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israel Starr is a recording artist, record producer, and independent retailer. In 2012 he moved from playing sport in Australia to playing music in NZ. Israel knows barber pimpin’ easy. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

125: Olivia Shivas—along with two friends—made What’s Wrong With You?‘, a podcast about disability that tackles the tricky questions disabled people are asked. Olivia was inadvertently locked out of her first big office Christmas party. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phil Grey is the GM of Waikato community access station Free FM. A constant over his 19 years in the role is embracing change, as well as instigating it. Phil has Dewey Decimal-related PTSD. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.