Kiwi Yarns

Today’s guest is Dr Libby Weaver - a thirteen-time bestselling author and internationally acclaimed nutritional biochemist. For years, Dr Libby has dedicated herself to empowering people to take control of their health through education and practical insights. Her current focus is on raising awareness about iron - one of the most overlooked yet essential aspects of wellbeing. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to better understand their body and take charge of their health. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aotearoa’s sprint queen, Zoe Hobbs, is the first - and so far the only - New Zealand woman to run the 100 metres in under 11 seconds, clocking a personal best of 10.96 s. She was also the first Kiwi in nearly 100 years - man or woman - to reach an Olympic 100 m semi‑final, finishing 14th overall and edging ever closer to a global podium. In this episode, she lifts the lid on elite sprinting, sharing the science, mindset, body mechanics and determination that drive the world’s fastest people down the most‑watched straight in sport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Daymond is a comedian, writer, director and content creator, currently touring Australia with his latest show, Hope I Made You Proud. It’s a journey through his career - from living in his car, to cleaning caravans in the middle of the night, to performing on stages around the world. I last caught up with Joe - a proud Fijian Māori from Wainuiomata - over Zoom in 2021, and let’s just say, putting us both in a studio for a proper chat was always going to be a bit dangerous. We talk about his endgame, why he’s feeling a bit in limbo, and - fair warning - it occasionally feels a little like a therapy session. Plus, we play a game about what to do when you bump into someone you hate at the supermarket, and Joe explains why Kiwi crowds are the toughest in the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bailley Unahi suffered a spinal cord injury at just 19 years old while studying at Otago University. She was at a flat on Castle Street when the balcony collapsed at the start of a Six60 gig in 2016. It was a life-changing moment - one that Bailley not only faced head-on, but turned into a positive. She shares how grateful she is for everything that has happened since. Bailley admits she finds it hard to say no to new opportunities, and it’s her relentless determination and drive that have brought her closer than ever to securing a spot on the Winter Paralympics team for 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we meet Toitū te Tiriti spokesperson and Auckland Law School academic Eru Kapa-Kingi.Eru became the face and voice of Hīkoi mō te Tiriti, which saw more than 50,000 people descend on Parliament late last year to demonstrate the unity of Māori and Tangata Tiriti, and to oppose the Treaty Principles Bill.It was a historic moment - one that many New Zealanders, myself included, were extremely proud of - and it marked a changing of the guard, with the emergence of a new generation of young Māori leaders.Eru reflects on what it was like to be part of this shift. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest has a job that, on the surface, many would describe as a "dream job" and say, "oh, how lucky!"While there’s no denying that the titles “travel blogger,” “travel writer,” and “travel photographer” have a certain allure, Abigail Hannah’s backstory is truly fascinating.Born in Aotearoa, Abigail spent most of her childhood growing up in rural India, a place that felt like home. She later returned to New Zealand alone to begin her studies, and was diagnosed with depression some months afterwards.Abigail shares her experience of navigating one of the darkest periods of her life, and how falling in love with New Zealand - by reconnecting with nature - changed the course of her life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He holds the record for the highest ever ODI score for New Zealand, and over a 13-year international career, he represented his country in 367 matches. He is also New Zealand’s all-time leading T20 run-scorer.Yet Martin Guptill reveals that he had little say in how his international career ended - it was almost as if he was “ghosted” by New Zealand Cricket.Now, he's taking time to process and reflect on what was a remarkable career, and insists he still has plenty more cricket left to play.Guptill offers a fascinating insight into the 2019 Cricket World Cup semi-final and the now-infamous final - with the emotions surrounding both still clearly evident.Throughout it all, his family has played an integral role - something he says he is grateful for every single day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca Gibney is everything I’d hoped she’d be – and more.If I say Packed to the Rafters, Halifax f.p., The Flying Doctors, Sensing Murder – you say Rebecca Gibney.Rebecca Gibney – and I don’t think you can refer to her by just her first name – has been a fixture in film and television for over 40 years, working across both Aotearoa and Australia.And while she celebrated her 60th birthday last year – making it clear that her foot is still very much on the throttle – Rebecca Gibney was honoured with a thoroughly deserved Hall of Fame Logie: a lifetime achievement award recognising her exceptional career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I've known Ali Mau for 13 years. We first met when I started working as a producer on Q+A at TVNZ, and she was the host of Fair Go.She took me under her wing, taught me how to do piece-to-cameras, and has been a mentor and dear friend ever since.Like many others, I did not know about the abuse she had suffered as a child until I read her book.It is confronting and brave, and by the end, it hit me in both the gut and the heart.But what it - and this interview with Ali - shows is a strength beyond words.We also explore her career, her passions, and an incredible story about her competing at Horse of the Year.*Warning: this episode discusses sexual abuse Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Samantha Hayes was just 23 when she became the presenter of Nightline - the country's youngest presenter at the time.Since then, she has cage-dived with sharks without the main part of the cage (wild), brought the Mongrel Mob and Black Power together for an interview for the first time, and been in most Kiwis’ living rooms as co-anchor alongside Mike McRoberts on ThreeNews.2024 was tumultuous, to say the least, for Sam. She was dealing with the end of her relationship with the father of her two children when the very public and shocking announcement of Newshub’s closure came barreling through. Sam also lost a very dear friend in 2024. As you’ll hear, these are all things she is processing while learning to navigate a new life - whilst still maintaining utter professionalism and storytelling as she now presents the news solo for ThreeNews in its relatively new format with Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices