EXCLUSIVE: Simon Barnett on Losing Jodi, Grief, Faith & Finding Purpose

In this deeply personal episode, Simon Barnett opens up about the love story he shared with his late wife Jodi, her courageous battle with brain cancer, and the life-changing lessons her loss has taught him.

Simon talks about the early days of their relationship, the moment they received the devastating diagnosis, the realities of living with grief, and how his faith, family, and friends have helped him through.

This is a conversation about love, loss, and resilience — and a tribute to Jodi’s enduring legacy.

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Timestamps:

0:00 Why Simon Barnett is so private

4:30 On grief and losing his wife Jodi

9:00 Going to counselling

10:30 Talking to God

12:30 Family life, kids & parents remarrying

18:00 Funny story: competitiveness & missing flights

20:00 Being a terrible handyman (clip)

23:00 Becoming “Chiefy” to his grandkids

30:30 Early career & Telethon story (clip)

33:20 What Now TV show days

38:20 Why he stayed in Christchurch (offers abroad & Auckland)

49:00 The Tom Cruise story: humiliation to meeting him

55:30 Dancing With the Stars

1:04:00 Being a caregiver (clip)

1:10:00 The month after Jodi’s passing

1:18:00 Finding faith at age 30

1:21:00 Return to More FM & leaving Newstalk ZB

1:29:40 Raising daughters

1:35:02 Masculinity after raising four children

1:40:33 The key to happiness

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