Kiwi Yarns

This week, we meet tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Annette Presley. Annette started her first business at 24, co-founded one of New Zealand’s earliest internet providers, Slingshot, took on Telecom in the early 2000s (and won), and was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business and women. Her latest mission? To support women and children through health, education, leadership, and wellbeing programmes via the Annette Presley Dream Foundation.

Today’s guest is probably the most famous fisherman in all of Aotearoa. Matt Watson only ever wanted to fish, and the kid who used to drag his dinghy up a steep boat ramp for the hour-long walk home has turned his passion into a remarkable career. Matt is such a brilliant storyteller that you’ll be hooked on this one (see what I did there). But truly - what a guy!

It's taken seven years of asking (I'm very patient), but I finally get to sit down with our 40th Prime Minister, Dame Jacinda Ardern. She's beaming in from the other side of the world, but we manage to squeeze in just under an hour to discuss her book, A Different Kind of Power, which is enjoying success across the globe. We discuss her leadership and having no regrets about departing when she did. Jacinda shares her insights into the state of the world right now, and why she believes empathy and kindness are more important than ever. Oh yeah – and that time she tripped over at Rhythm and Vines...

When you talk about (or even Google) celebrated athletes in this country, rugby players usually come up first. But I want you to meet New Zealand’s most-capped athlete, who has played an astonishing 667 international matches for her country. She is Val Smith, one of New Zealand’s most successful lawn bowls athletes. She’s a two-time world champion and has another nine world championship medals to her name. She’s also one of the most wholesome interviews I’ve done in a while – guaranteed to warm the cockles of your heart!

This week, we're with the trailblazing drum and bass star, award-winning vocalist, MC, producer, composer, music mentor and author - MC Tali, aka Natalia Sheppard. The girl from rural Taranaki became Aotearoa’s - and one of the world’s - first drum and bass MCs, despite coming up against an industry and people who told her she couldn’t. We will probably all learn a thing or two about how hard it is to MC a live gig! Tali is an absolute gem - we are lucky to have such a talent in the music industry, and she should be celebrated far and wide.

Dame Julie Christie remembers the first show she made back in 1988 as if it were yesterday. Her passion for making television is just as strong 300-odd shows later. Her eyes nearly roll to the back of her head when we mention the title "reality TV queen" that’s often thrown around to describe her, but there’s no denying Dame Julie was a global leader in the genre. We discuss the decline of television and what she thinks New Zealand should and could be doing to save the industry here.

Morgan Penn is the guest I've been most intimate with (you’ll find out how and why - how’s that for a teaser?). A lot has happened since we last spoke, but Morgan is still out there, openly sharing her journey and educating others. She believes we were never properly taught to value our bodies - and that feeling comfortable in your own skin is one of life’s greatest gifts. As host of the hugely successful Sex.Life podcast, which has just wrapped its third season, Morgan recently shared a heartbreaking personal story in the final episode - and we talk about it today. Morgan has always been incredibly open, trusting, and loving. If you’re up for it, there are genuine takeaways for everyone in this episode. Note: This episode contains conversations about sex and sexual assault, and includes strong language. It may not be suitable for all listeners.

Tami Neilson’s just back from touring the US with her now-dear friend Willie Nelson - and Bob Dylan (yes, you’ll get the tea on what that was like...). She’s also released her latest album, Neon Cowgirl, and shares some truly stunning stories about how it came together - particularly how she’s recently learned to carry both joy and sorrow, in life and in music. Tami doesn’t shy away from a powerful kōrero on the problematic history of country music - and how she’s still navigating it.

Guy Montgomery has absolutely nailed it. The Billy T and Fred Award-winning, Logie-nominated comedian, writer, and television host is responsible for making spelling bees funny, doing podcasts long before most (and doing them well), and cracking into Aussie television. He's one of Aotearoa’s most internationally successful comedians, but he's back home with his latest stand-up show, I've Noticed So Many Things, It'd Be Unfair to Keep Them to Myself (Auckland, August 15). This chat goes everywhere - from Guy opening up about how success has filled him with anxiety, to a wider discussion on how technology is eating away at creativity and the entertainment industry.

Today’s guest is Malindi MacLean, the first woman to lead Outward Bound as CEO. She took on the role while seven and a half months pregnant - and shares the many challenges that came with it. Malindi is also the co-founder of B416, a movement calling for a minimum age of 16 for social media in Aotearoa. Remarkably, she’s never had social media herself - and is determined to help shift our habits around screen time. This is a candid and powerful conversation with the 36-year-old former professional cyclist, whose story is as thought-provoking as it is inspiring.