Kiwi Yarns

Today’s guest is such a phenomenal woman who I had the pleasure of meeting in 2018 when I ran my first ever marathon, raising money for the CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust. Catriona Williams is the founder and driving force behind the charity - which supports researchers in the bid for a cure for spinal cord injuries. Catriona was one of the country’s leading international equestrian riders - but a serious riding accident in 2002, left her a C6/C7 tetraplegic and confined to a wheelchair. As you’ll hear though, this is a woman who really doesn’t let anything get in her way. I'm pretty sure you'll all have a girl crush (like me) after this one! 

Kendra Cocksedge is one of the best rugby players in the world, and has been at the top of the sport at an international level for 14 years. She is an absolute weapon with the rugby ball, and good luck to anyone who tries (see what I did there) to get in her way on the footy field. At the moment, she is taking some time out from playing rugby after battling mental fatigue - so we talk about how she's doing, and how important it's been for her.This is such a cool chat, Kendra is such a fantastic role model for young kids. Actually, grown ups could learn a thing or two too!

Kara Rickard is a smart, funny and very talented broadcaster. A proud wahine Māori with three beautiful children, Kara is a music and martial arts enthusiast and cancer survivor. She's a respected name in radio but after a decade at George FM, decided to put the mic away at the end of last year.A really lovely, insightful yarn.

Today's guest makes something in a jar that brings so much joy to so many Kiwis, including my own mother who I have seen scoop it out of the jar with a spoon on MANY occasions!Pic Picot is the man behind Pic's Peanut Butter, which has become a bit of a national treasure. The funny thing is, Pic only started making peanut butter when he'd retired, in order to make a couple of hundred bucks a week. Now, Pic's Peanut Butter World (the factory in Nelson) pumps out 25,000 jars a day, destined for all parts of the globe.What's even funnier is the successful recipe was a fluke! Absolutely great chats with a great Kiwi!Pic's new book, entitled: Pic: adventures in sailing, business, and love is available at www.picspeanutbutter.com/nz/ and at Whitcoulls, Paper Plus, The Warehouse, Foodstuffs supermarkets, and independent booksellers nationwide. RRP: $29.95.

It would be fair to say today’s guest is one of New Zealand’s most-loved Dads. His name is Jordan Watson aka How To DAD. He lives in Tauranga with his wife (How to MUM) and three daughters AND girl dog. He's a dad who makes videos about Dad stuff. A dad who’s first dad video started off as a bit of a laugh six years ago and now he’s got books, he's done a Ted Talk, and his videos have hundreds of millions of views. He's hilarious, he's awesome and he's a top notch Dad!

Guled Mire is coming to us from New York, after winning a Fulbright Award to study at the Ivy League-listed Cornell University. Not a bad achievement for a young man who dropped out of school at the age of 16 after being told university wasn't really for people like him. The former refugee drew on the strength from his mother - who as a solo parent, fled Somalia in the midst of civil war with her nine children, spent time in a refugee camp in Kenya before bringing her family to New Zealand for a better life.But what does "better life" in New Zealand actually mean? Unfortunately for Guled and so many other refugees here, it's just not that straight-forward.So, Guled has drawn on his own experiences to become a leader, a role model, a man who works extremely hard to ensure ethnic youth of refugee and migrant backgrounds have a voice and every opportunity they can in New Zealand.

Today’s guest is the wonderful Toni Street - and I’m pretty sure it would be fair to say there’s really not much this woman can’t do. She is an incredibly talented TV presenter and radio host, sports commentator, she’s a dab hand in the kitchen, she’s played both cricket and netball at a representative level, and she’s a superstar Mum to her three beautiful children. We have a lovely chat about her success, but also her strength and resilience through some really tough times. Toni is a remarkable woman with the most infectious smile and it's always a joy to speak to her!

A warning: this episode will be discussing suicide and mental health issues.Today's episode is with three very special young women in one of the most powerful, brave and important interview's I've ever done.The Cool Change NZ "sisters", Grace Curtis, Tori Wheelans and Georgie Harris say they’ve been brought together by tragedy, but say they hope they can make the most out of their sad situations.Grace, Tori and Georgie all lost their Dads to suicide. In the midst of unfathomable trauma, they created Cool Change NZ- as a platform for them to speak out about their grief, to discuss how to get through trauma and to campaign for change. Where to get help:Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 (8am-12am), or email talk@youthline.co.nzWhat's Up: online chat (3pm-10pm) or 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 helpline (12pm-10pm weekdays, 3pm-11pm weekends)Kidsline (ages 5-18): 0800 543 754 (24/7)Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254Healthline: 0800 611 116Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111. 

Jacqui Maguire is a registered clinical psychologist, a mental health and wellbeing thought leader, and someone who has the amazing ability to explain all the stuff that’s going on in our heads - from the complicated to the not so complicated - she just gets it. Jacqui has just released a wonderful new book to help parents and children together. It's called When the Wind Blew: A Book for Little People with Big Feelings. She's crafted the book that "magically entwines children’s storytelling and evidence-based psychology to support children navigate the emotional rollercoaster of unexpected change."The amazing thing about Jacqui is she explains things in simple terms and wants to help as many people as possible navigate this rather tricky world. Think of this episode as a really helpful and free therapy session!Here's the link to buy her book: https://jacquimaguire.co.nz/product/when-the-wind-blew/

Now I’ve been a big fan of Jodie Rimmer since the early 2000s when she was on "The Strip" - man I LOVED that show! The award-winning actress Jodie is someone who lights up the screen in such a huge variety of roles, resulting in her being a much loved woman here in New Zealand. More recently, she’s been the hilarious narrator on The Bachelor and Bachelorette. Jodie is an absolute delight to chat to, and my word did she drop some names of well known people I did NOT know were involved in "The Strip" (I'm looking at you Taika Waititi)!!