Kiwi Yarns

Today’s guest is the ultra marathon swimmer Jono Ridler.Now if you're wondering, ultra-marathon swimming generally means a 20 kilometre or greater swim. In other words a really really long swim.Well, Jono has just absolutely blown that out of the water (I’m not apologising for that pun) and swum 99.1 kilometres across the Hauraki Gulf. It’s the longest solo-unassisted open-water swim in New Zealand history.And, he didn’t do it for the accolades or for the record books, he did it to raise awareness of the dire state the Hauraki Gulf is in. Quite an extreme way to get a point across but he nailed the assignment!

Today’s guest is the super talented and bloody funny Steven Fernandez. He's an editor, a journalist, a stylist, a creative director, a producer, a publicist, and he's based in New York. If little black books were still a thing I reckon Steven’s would have some HUGE names in it (actually he showed me, he's got Kris Jenner's number).He’s been responsible for getting some of the biggest stars on the cover of Remix Magazine - we’re talking Naomi Campbell, Hayley Bieber, and just recently Ashley Graham.It's great to hear from a Kiwi who's absolutely smashing it overseas - we love to see it!

Today’s guest is Major Buffy Little - a nursing officer in the New Zealand Army. Tomorrow (25 April) is Anzac Day, so who better to get on than a pretty remarkable woman who’s helped with the NZDF’s response to the Christchurch Earthquake, she was involved in the rescue efforts after the Whakaari/White Island eruption, and has served in Vanuatu and Iraq.Buffy is also a two-time breast cancer survivor, and she talks about when her wife was then also diagnosed in 2019, it made Buffy realise she wasn't quite dealing with the physical and mental toll it had taken on her.She's off to the Invictus Games in Germany in September - a mission that's been over three years in the making (thanks Covid). Good luck Buffy!

Today’s guest is the incredible country music artist Kaylee Bell. She’s had an absolutely glorious year already, performing as the opening act for Ed Sheeran at his six stadium shows, she won a 2023 Australian Golden Guitar Award AND she’s about to headline her own shows throughout Aotearoa next month, as part of More Fm Radio's New Rising Star, Boots 'N All Tour. All that and it’s only April!Some really cool stories about all the hard graft to get to where she is today!

Today’s guests are two great pals, two talented musicians and music producers who form the electronic duo Sachi.Will Thomas and Nick Crisp have grafted hard to get to where they are today - and it’s absolutely paid off - constantly selling out gigs and being the first Kiwis to perform at the massive Tomorrowland Festival in Belgium last year.They absolutely got me good on how they came up with their name too - possibly the most embarrassed I've ever been on this podcast!

Today’s guest is 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!

Today’s guest doesn’t do things by halves! As if competing at two Olympics in the canoe slalom wasn’t enough, Mike Dawson has recently skied 1000 kilometres across Antarctica to the South Pole. He’s also a mountain biker, photographer and film-maker. He's got some epic stories!

Today’s guest is one of the country’s great All Blacks, Kieran Read. Not only did he captain the side 52 times, but was capped 128 times for New Zealand, won two World Cups, and four Super Rugby titles for the Crusaders. A huge rugby career that he stepped down from in 2021.As you'll hear, life after rugby is going really well for Kieran, and he has possibly one of the most random Kiwi Yarns quickfire answers I've ever heard (hint: the last one!).Oh yeah, and he thinks Razor should be the next All Blacks Coach!

Today’s guest is the Mayor of the Far North - and when Moko Tepania (Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa, Te Rarawa) was voted in last year he made history by being the first Maori mayor for the region, and also the youngest, at age 31.The kura kaupapa teacher had served one term on council and now has the top job and boy has he already been busy - particularly in the past few weeks dealing with the aftermath of the devastating Cyclone Gabrielle.He is a visible presence within the community, and in my opinion he's officially the coolest Mayor in Aotearoa!

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!