Verbal Highs

Andy Vann is an originator in the New Zealand music community. He nurtured much of the talent laid down on 1994’s ‘Proud: Urban Street Soul Compilation’. Andy is looking forward to Leeds getting back into the premiership. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alan McElroy is a stand-up comedian, MC, actor and writer from Dublin. He immigrated to Auckland in 2010 & has been on the local pro comedy circuit since. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Theo Gibson is a theatre, film, and video technician who turned a 1990 Toyota Sera into an electric vehicle & made a documentary about it along the way. Theo longs for a day when driverless car software can differentiate between children & midgets. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tobi Muir operates Auckland’s Jafa Mafia sound system. Tobi’s folks were activists, which led to a sudden move from Dunedin to London when he was 10. Tobi’s Dachshund Sizzla disappeared from a party. He turned up again four years later. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bill Urale is an award-winning rapper, music producer, clothing designer, screen printer, record label founder, video director, and community worker. Bono once invited Bill to a small room where he sat with Zane Lowe’s mum. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike Weston is a musician, print maker, videographer, promoter, and painter. Before becoming one half of Weston Frizzell, he toured Detroit techno DJs. Mike was involved in a Champagne smuggling cartel that operated out of Sony Music Christmas parties. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scott Blanks is the Don of the NZ stand-up comedy scene. Scott was one of the original pioneers of the early '80s, before opening The Classic in 1997. Scott once had an existential crisis while drinking Scotch & listening to U2. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elizabeth Allan is a novelist, bartender, journalist, editor, ESL tutor, and sub editor who has self-published three of the six novels she has written. In 2002 she sent the entire print run of the first novel to Manchester & never checked whether it arrived. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dylan Chase is an Auckland DJ stalwart by night & Programme Director for Base FM by day. Base’s large roster of DJs aims to bring the funk to Auckland. In 2015 Dylan clocked Gladwell’s 10,000 hour theory on the turntables. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeremy Parkinson has produced prime-time talkback radio since 1998. Over the last few years he’s produced Michael Laws, Sean Plunket, & Mark Sainsbury. Jeremy voted for Helen Clark because she was giving him a lift home at night. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leon Dahl is a musician, audio engineer, producer, & Hitech DJ/PA Product Manager for the NZ Rockshop stores. He was one half of house duo Cuffy & Leon. Leon can hear the lava cavities under Auckland’s surface. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simon Sweetman is a freelance music writer & critic, former blogger @ On The Tracks, webhost @ Off the Tracks, and host of the weekly Sweetman Podcast. Simon once received an apology letter from Robbie Williams. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bobby Brazuka is a São Paulo-born DJ, radio host, gig promoter, & NZ Music Award nominee. He is NZ’s unofficial Brazilian music & culture ambassador. Bobby is currently hunting a nappy bag thief who is terrorising his neighbourhood. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julian Boshier has spent the past decade completing Swagger of Thieves, a film about friendship, ageing, addiction, relationships, & Head Like A Hole. Julian doesn’t like red. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nick Atkinson plays sax for Supergroove & Hopetoun Brown. He has also produced & presented for RNZ, written for The Herald, & globetrotted on yachts. Nick believes if Supergroove had been sailing across the ocean together the first time around, they would not have broken up. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rob Warner is a DJ, public relations consultant, and dance music culture advocate. Rob has successfully campaigned against lockout laws in Auckland. Rob once schooled a flight attendant on aircraft safety by citing a YouTube video. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Greg Churchill is a DJ, producer, and radio host. He is arguably the Don Dada of New Zealand house music, having cut his teeth in the early 1980s. Greg’s pre-gig callisthenics involve a 90 minute nap and three shots of tequila. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guy Capper is a clay animator, actor, writer, filmmaker, stand-up comedian, and teacher. He and Jemaine Clement are The Pen’s ovine duo, Robert & Sheepy. Guy looks forward to later in life when he can have a giggle & a scone knowing it my all go wrong. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Ridler is the Head of Music & Radio at NZ On Air, coming to the role after a period as Content Director of Radio Hauraki, and a career in music. It’s definitely David, not Dave. So remember that if you’re ever getting to second base with him in correspondence. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Murray Cammick is a journalist, photographer, editor, record label owner, DJ, and radio host perhaps best known for founding Rip It Up & Wildside Records. Murray found Jesus in his teens, but then lost him again. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teremoana Rapley is a musician, magazine editor, television presenter & producer. Tere’s career began as a member of pioneering rap crew Upper Hutt Posse. One day Tere thought a homeless person had approached her in Ponsonby. It turned out to be a man with life-changing news. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Lawrence is an award-winning theatre director, actor, and teacher. He is a Shakespeare scholar currently heading production for the Pop-up Globe. This episode is dedicated to the memory of Andrew Menzies. Please subscribe to the podcast & check Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Greg Treadwell is an award-winning Senior Lecturer in journalism at AUT University. He is soon to complete a PhD examining freedom of information in NZ. Like Cole Sear sees dead people, Greg sees holes in news articles. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Leighton & Ryan Cooper draw, voice & script the cartoon show Barefoot Bandits. Alongside Tim Evans they run Auckland animation studio Mukpuddy. In high school Disney was Alex’s Iron Maiden. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Raiza Biza is a Congo-born New Zealand rapper of Rwandan heritage. He is aligned with YGB and heads a collective of artists under the banner AmmoNation. Raiza lives in the future & believes the universal truth is love. Please subscribe to the podcast & check www.verbalhighs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.