Different Matters by Damien Grant

Graham Linehan is an Irish comedy writer and anti-transgender activist. He created or co-created the sitcoms Father Ted (1995–1998), Black Books (2000–2004) and The IT Crowd (2006–2013), and he has written for shows including Count Arthur Strong, Brass Eye and The Fast Show. Early in his career, he partnered with the writer Arthur Mathews. Linehan has won five BAFTA awards, including Best Writer, Comedy, for The IT Crowd in 2014.Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews Graham to discuss his early career, as well as his more recent emersion in the trans-gender debate.  For more information, or to get in touch, visit the Different Matters Website.

James Hollings is Programme Leader, Journalism, for Massey Niversity.  He has worked in senior roles in news organisations, including as production editor and as a senior correspondent in health, agriculture, industry and the arts. His doctoral dissertation was on the decision-making processes of reluctant witnesses.James Hollings, together with Kirsty Johnston, recently published The Crewe MurdersInside New Zealand’s most infamous cold case. The murder of Harvey and Jeannette Crewe in their Pukekawa farmhouse in 1970 remains New Zealand’s most infamous cold case. It spawned two trials, two appeals, several books, a film, and eventually a royal commission finding of police corruption.Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews a wide selection of interesting and entertaining individuals, authors, business people, politicians and anyone else actually willing to talk to him.For more information, or to get in touch, visit the Different Matters Website.

Dr. Eric Crampton, Chief Economist at The New Zealand Initiative, discusses 'How the Dismal Science Got Its Name' with host. Topics include differing views on slavery and race in the 19th century, Thomas Carlisle's controversial views, debates on conduct attribution, controversial governor's actions in Jamaica, revisiting historical debates on market egalitarianism and slavery, and exploring moral egalitarianism and autonomy in decision-making.

Damien interviews Philip Matthews about his book on the life of genetic scientist Andrew Bagshaw, who saved 500 lives in Ukraine but tragically lost his own. They discuss heroism, selflessness, and the moral clarity of the Ukrainian conflict compared to other conflicts.

Joe Bennett is one of New Zealands most highly decorated columnists and has won the New Zealand Colomnist Award of the Year multiple times.  Born in England, Joe Bennett has lived in New Zealand since 1987. Thirteen collections of his columns have been published in New Zealand and three world-wide. He has had four travel books published by Simon and Schuster UK, and his work has been translated into Chinese, Korean, Greek and American. Where Underpants Come From was the Whitcoulls Travcom Travel Book of the Year in 2009. His novel, King Rich, is set in the ruins of Christchurch after the 2011 quakes, and spent five weeks at #1 on the NZ Fiction Best Seller list. ​His memoir From There to Here was published by Harper Collins in May 2023.Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews a wide selection of interesting and entertaining individuals, authors, business people, politicians and anyone else actually willing to talk to him.For more information, or to get in touch, visit the Different Matters Website. 

Jordan Williams, lawyer and political activist, discusses founding the Taxpayers Union, navigating financial responsibilities, choosing fights for policy change, public perception challenges, reflections on conversations with Peter Shirkliff, and the role of advocacy organizations in New Zealand.

Gareth Thomas Llewelyn Hughes is a New Zealand activist, Political Commentator, and a former politician of the Green Party. He was a member of the New Zealand Parliament for eleven years, from 2010 to 2020.He is also the author of the book, A Gentle Radical, The Life of Jeanette Fitzsimons. Join me as I speak to Gareth about Jeanette's early life, what drove her to vaticalism, the limits to growth and other pholosphical ideas that drove her, and her election to Parliment and her running in and interaction with Jim Anderton, Helen Clark and John Key.For more information, or to get in touch, visit the Different Matters Website. 

Lord Hannan of Kingsclere is an author and columnist. A former member of the European Parliament and advisor to The Board Of Trade, he writes for ConservativeHome and The Washington Examiner. He is currently a sitting member of the House of Lords where he takes the Conservative whip, and has since 2020 served as an adviser to the Board of Trade. He is the founding president of the Initiative for Free Trade.Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews a wide selection of interesting and entertaining individuals, authors, business people, politicians and anyone else actually willing to talk to him.For more information, or to get in touch, visit the Different Matters Website. 

Explore Dr. Don Brash's diverse career in economic advisory, financial governance, and political leadership. Hear about his encounters with prominent figures like Milton Friedman and Robert McNamara, along with reflections on closing tax loopholes, central bank independence, and economic models. Delve into his unexpected political journey, success in campaigns, and evolution of beliefs towards focusing on economic and policy issues in society.

Paul Diamond is a writer, broadcast journalist and historian. His radio programmes have won Qantas Media and Media Peace Awards. He was also awarded a David Low Chevening Fellowship in 2001 to study at Oxford University. Diamond’s first book, A Fire in your Belly (2003) is a significant collection of interviews with Maori leaders. Makereti: Taking Māori to the World (2007), is a biography by Diamond, and was the inspiration for the exhibition about Makereti (Maggie Papakura) at the National Library.(Source: Read-NZ)The outcome of years of digging by historian Paul Diamond, Downfall: The destruction of Charles Mackay shines a clear light on the vengeful impulses behind the blackmail and Mackay’s ruination.Tune in as controversial writer and podcast host, Damien Grant, interviews a wide selection of interesting and entertaining individuals, authors, business people, politicians and anyone else actually willing to talk to him.For more information, or to get in touch, visit the Different Matters Website.