

The Fold
The Spinoff
Conversations about the intersections of media, culture and technology in New Zealand, hosted by Duncan Greive, founder of The Spinoff.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 18, 2025 • 38min
The one local media form defying gravity
Duncan Greive is joined by Phil Eastwood, GM of JCDecaux NZ, and Paul Maher, chair of OOHMAA, to discuss the rise and rise of out-of-home media. Once a backwater of the industry, it’s now the only locally operated sector showing robust growth. Partly a result of digital screens, partly a response to the hyper-saturation of ads in digital contexts, out-of-home has become what Eastwood calls “the last true broadcast medium”.
This episode is in partnership with JCDecaux. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10 snips
Aug 12, 2025 • 43min
Neil Finn on the broken promise of the internet – and why he won’t give up on it
Join renowned singer-songwriter Neil Finn, the creative force behind Crowded House and Split Enz, as he delves into the internet's broken promises and his ambitious community projects like MUFGAL. He reflects on the early utopia of the internet, shares his unique experiences with live streaming, and discusses why he distanced himself from social media. Finn critiques algorithmic systems and AI's threats to music while advocating for independent platforms. This conversation sparks joy and insights about building community through music and creativity.

Aug 11, 2025 • 34min
NZ on Air funds reality TV now?
Glen Kyne joins Duncan Greive on The Fold to discuss the shock revelation that NZ on Air will support Celebrity Treasure Island and The Traitors NZ’s return to our screens. They assess the potential moral hazard, the function those shows perform for networks, and the more profound challenges lurking down the road. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 4, 2025 • 46min
How a new history of NZ pop music reveals media's revolutions
Gareth Shute, a music writer and historian, discusses his new book, 'Songs From the Shaky Isles', offering a comprehensive overview of New Zealand's pop music history. He highlights the transformative influence of television and commercial radio on music production and artist exposure. Shute dives into the significance of Māori show bands and the emergence of a vibrant counterculture in the 60s and 70s. He also tackles the challenges artists face in gaining international recognition today, especially in the streaming era.

Jul 28, 2025 • 35min
What happened when advertising decided it could save the world?
Eugene Healey is an academic and brand strategist based in Melbourne, and a sharp critic of clumsy attempts from brands to play social justice activists. He's traveling back to New Zealand to speak at the Comms Council's Media Spotlight event, and joins Duncan Greive on The Fold to discuss the unintended consequences of advertising's woke years, and explain why brands should only show up for a community if they're truly committed to the bit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 23, 2025 • 40min
Why is Epstein suddenly everywhere, and what does that mean for New Zealand's media and politics?
Anna Rawhiti-Connell joins Duncan Greive on The Fold to discuss the way social media conspiracy theories have started to dominate the institutional media in the US, and ask what the local equivalents might be. They also talk about Lucy Blakiston from Shit You Should Care About's signing to venerable Hollywood talent agency WME, and The Spinoff's buzzy new social-first news show Now You Know. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 22, 2025 • 30min
Emergency pod! On Sky buying Three – and what it means for TVNZ
Glen Kyne joins Duncan Greive on an emergency edition of The Fold to discuss Sky's move to buy the New Zealand assets of Discovery NZ, including Three and ThreeNow. They discuss the price, what it does for Sky, how Three will evolve and how it changes the game for TVNZ.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 21, 2025 • 46min
Can Netflix's run last forever? Plus Substack's raise and Beacons reflections
Glen Kyne returns to The Fold to dig into another incredible quarter for Netflix – and ask whether its run is over or it has more headroom. They also chat about what's next for Substack after its US$100m raise, the end of the Auckland Transport saga and break down the Beacon Awards.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 14, 2025 • 42min
How Auckland FC aced (almost) everything – including its media strategy
Nick Becker is an Aucklander who spent 15 years in the UK, much of it in key roles with huge EPL teams Arsenal and Manchester City, before a spell in Melbourne. He returned home to launch the city’s first professional football team in more than a decade – one which overcame early doubts to become a phenomenon right out of the gate. He joins Duncan Greive on The Fold to talk about the decision to let a documentary crew film their first season, how to build fan engagement and delve into the complexities of reach versus reward in sports rights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 7, 2025 • 49min
The biggest media stories no one is talking about
Glen Kyne joins Duncan Greive on The Fold to discuss a clutch of curiously under-covered stories which suggest major changes coming to streaming entertainment and news publishing. There’s Netflix’s massive deal with France’s biggest broadcaster to host its live channels and a vast library of content, along with a group of UK TV companies banding together to sell ads across their networks. Then there is the continual encroachment of AI into platforms, including the sharp rise on both Spotify and YouTube – along with the chance of a fightback, in Cloudflare’s desire to create a “pay-per-crawl” model. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices