Kiwi Yarns – Details, episodes & analysis

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 ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 NZ Comedy Guild an incredible four times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 fascinating look into the live music industry - some great war stories in here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is a wonderful broadcaster, a fine young woman I’ve admired for a very long time. PJ Harding is a former radio host who built out an amazing career here and in Australia.  She moved from the bright lights of Melbourne to the mighty Wairarapa, and lives somewhat more of a quiet life with her fiancé Brendan aka BJ, baby Charlie, Josephine the cat, and Fig the dog. She talks motherhood, the good and bad of social media, and what she's planning on doing next. PJ is a fabulous person with an infectious smile and tells a bloody great yarn! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is a best-selling author, a qualified counsellor, a self-development coach, a speaker AND she has a massive social media community as @journey_to_wellness_ on Instagram. Rebekah Ballagh has worked in mental health for many years, but saw the need to help more in the online space. Her books, courses and online advice is easily accessible and hugely popular - she's just great! Be Your Best Self is her FIFTH book - and it's out at all good bookstores now.  This was a great session (I mean podcast haha). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is journalist Charlotte Bellis.  Charlotte began her career in her hometown Christchurch, but it’s taken her all over the world, from Europe to the United States and more recently, Afghanistan, where she has sat down and interviewed the Taliban. Last year she became a mum, and during her pregnancy she fought for herself and the many Kiwis locked out of New Zealand due to the MIQ system during the pandemic. She was instrumental in highlighting how deeply flawed it was, which came at the cost of some horrific online abuse. But, the system changed and she was part of that. A really fascinating conversation with a pretty remarkable woman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is one of my favourite Black Ferns Sevens players! That's not only because she tears up the field, she has sweet dance moves AND she’s one of the funniest people I follow on Instagram and TikTok Basically, Shiray Kaka is an absolute vibe and you will love her like I do! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guests are Tom Lee and Graham Matthews - two lads who have been the drum and bass duo Lee Mvtthews for the past ten years. They've become so popular with Kiwis, they’re headlining festivals, winning multiple awards, and absolutely owning the Summer gig circuit - recently playing in front of 20,000 people at Rhythm and Vines in Gisborne. I was one of those 20,000 frothers so this is a full geek out session - and it's so cool to hear how these guys operate. Also, the reason there's a V in their name is quite the yarn! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is the super talented, super fast, incredibly witty Liam Malone. This interview is a million miles an hour, much like the pace in which Liam can run! Liam tore through our TV screens at pace when he won two gold Medals and a silver at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio, and fast became one of our favourite sportspeople. He’s super switched on in the tech and innovation space, and can call himself a comedian after performing at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh. He's had a fascinating life, and tells many a great yarn! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to the first episode of 2023! We kick things off with a woman I admire hugely. Rikki Swannell is a trailblazer in the world of sports journalism, and flies the flag for women's sport in so fiercely and loudly, I’m basically fist pumping right now at how awesome she is and for what she has achieved in her career. Rikki and I first met when we worked in radio together back in 2010 - and I’ve watched her shine ever since. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices