Grey Areas with Petra Bagust

What does it mean to live, work, and find profound grace when an incurable brain disease slowly tries to strip away your capacity, your movement, and your voice?

In this episode of Grey Areas, renowned Aotearoa director, screenwriter, and playwright Toa Fraser (No. 2, The Dead Lands, Sweet Tooth) joins Petra for a compelling kōrero while dealing with medication-induced dyskinesia about his career and his Parkinson’s diagnosis. Toa initially kept the disease hidden for five years, yet now chooses to view Parkinson’s as an invaluable path toward humility, collaboration, and gratitude. 

Drawing on the wi...

Singer-songwriter Georgia Lines has sat inside the messy, sticky chrysalis of life, facing her deepest fears, and emerged into her thirties proud of who she is.🦋🩵

Georgia speaks publicly for the first time about navigating the painful, terrifying journey of walking through a divorce in her twenties, the exact life event she had feared most since childhood. She reflects on how the weight of shame and the terror of being misunderstood kept her from speaking about it when her album The Rose of Jericho was released. She talks about processing her feelings and the sheer resilience it took t...

What do you do when the initial relief of a late diagnosis wears off and your ADHD brain starts kicking your ass again?

Petra sits down with counsellor, therapist, and researcher Charlotte Cummings for a deeply honest, liberating kōrero about the emotional reality of living with a neurodivergent brain. 

Charlotte opens up about her own journey toward an ADHD diagnosis, sparked by the sensory overload and executive function demands of parenthood, and explains why treating ADHD purely as a behavioral or workplace productivity issue misses the most crucial piece of the puzzle: our emotional, re...

What does leadership look like when you step onto the periphery and commit to being a good neighbour above pretty much everything else?

In this expansive and unexpectedly funny episode of Grey Areas, Petra sits down with Archbishop Justin Duckworth, the dreadlocked, mostly barefoot Anglican Archbishop of Aotearoa, New Zealand Tikanga Pākehā. 

From growing up in Stokes Valley with no church background to living in central Wellington and working with people who live on the margins. His motivation was and is to make life a little more bearable for people who were struggling, to add...

What does it take to stop drifting toward frailty as we age, to challenge the "live within your means" mindset, and completely rewrite how we approach both our finances and our health? Well, I’d ask Hannah McQueen… so I did.

In this fiery episode of Grey Areas, Petra sits down with force-of-nature Hannah McQueen, chartered accountant, founder of EnableMe, and creator of the healthcare venture Age Brightly. 

Hannah traces her journey from calculating an eight-page calculus formula to pay off her own mortgage, to helping tens of thousands of New Zealanders break free from the "...

What do you do when you’re feeling in "rude good health," working across your dream broadcasting gigs, and a routine test turns your world upside down in an afternoon?

Seasoned Kiwi broadcaster Mel Homer was checking her heart health via a blood test when hours later, she was admitted to hospital, diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). A rare, aggressive, and life-threatening blood cancer that gave her zero warning.   

In this raw and courageously funny episode, Petra sits down with her longtime broadcasting peer to unpack the long, high-stakes journey through "scorched earth" chemotherapy, biops...

Full of great kōrero about the areas of life where we find ourselves in the grey - significant health diagnosis, neurodivergence… now what?!, aging parents and more. I sit down with disruptors, survivors, songwriters and spiritual leaders. 

It’s okay to be in mid-life, just don’t attempt it alone. 😂

Join me this coming Thursday for more mayhem and magic - the brand new season is coming in hot. Hit follow on your favourite audio platform 👊 so you don’t miss out.

Can’t wait to share it with you! xx

Learn mor...

Sir Ashley Bloomfield spent 300-odd consecutive days walking out to a lectern and telling New Zealand the status of the public health plan. As Director-General of Health through the COVID-19 pandemic, he became one of the most recognisable faces in the country's history. Calm, consistent, and quietly formidable/ a constant presence. Five years on, he's a professor at the University of Auckland, CEO of Public Health and Forensic Science, and, as of March this year, 60 years old.

In this kōrero, Petra sits down with Ashley for a broad conversation that moves from COVID reflections to growing u...

Morgana O'Reilly is an actor, writer, and one-woman force of nature whose credits span Billy T James Award-nominated theatre, Mean Mums, Neighbours, an Emmy award-winning covid comedy thriller series called INSiDE, and White Lotus. Her one-woman show ‘Stories About My Body’, a sellout tour exploring what it means to live inside a female body across the seasons of life, has just been made into a film, crowdfunded on kindness and released into New Zealand cinemas in July. Buckle up for a rollicking ride.

In this kōrero, Morgana and Petra have the kind of conversation that goes absol...

Brodie Kane does not lead a quiet life. The week Petra sits down with her, she's training for the Noosa Half Marathon, producing two podcasts, prepping a live show, MCing events across the country, and running Brodie Kane Media as a one woman band. She is, by her own admission, running around like a “blue-arse fly”. And when things are getting out of hand, she's getting better at noticing it - which is progress.

In this kōrero, Brodie and Petra cover a lot of ground, talking about what it actually means to be self-employed, the freedom, the l...

Robyn Malcolm is one of New Zealand's most beloved actors. And at 61, she is, by her own account, having the time of her life. In this kōrero, Petra sits down with Robyn who’s beaming in from Glasgow, while watching squirrels in the park, writing a new project with After the Party collaborator Diane Taylor, and settling into a life that looks nothing like the one she'd have planned, and everything like the one she was always meant to live.

This is a conversation that goes everywhere and earns every turn. Robyn and Petra talk about wha...

Most conversations about menopause cover hot flushes, brain fog, and sleep. Far fewer talk about what's happening below the waist, and for up to 84% of women, that silence comes at a real cost.

Dr Iona Weir is a cell biologist, inventor, and founder of biotech company Myregyna®. Her life's work centres on apoptosis, the process of programmed cell death, and specifically how compounds found in plants can reverse it. After decades developing pharmaceuticals and skincare, she turned her science towards one of the most underserved areas in women's health: genital urinary syndrome of menopause, or GSM.

Barbara Dreaver has spent decades moving towards stories others walk away from. As one of New Zealand's most respected journalists and TVNZ's Pacific correspondent, she has been detained in Fiji, witnessed children in crisis across the Pacific and stood in places where telling the truth was actively discouraged.

In this kōrero, Petra and Barbara sit down properly for the first time, and the conversation is exactly what you'd hope for. Barbara talks about growing up barefoot in a loving Pacific family with no money and yet extraordinary richness. What it means to carry both sides of h...

Dr Lara Briden is back, and for good reason. The naturopathic doctor, evolutionary biologist, and bestselling author of Period Repair Manual, Hormone Repair Manual, and The Metabolism Reset is the only guest to appear on Grey Areas three times, and this kōrero might be her best yet.

In this episode, Petra and Lara dig into what it means to have a female body, and why that's not the complicated, messy sidebar medicine has long made it out to be. Lara makes a compelling case that female physiology is arguably advantageous. Cyclic hormones are health-building, ovulation is p...

What does it actually look like to choose your family? Not just love them, but live with them, day in and day out, across generations and cultures? In this kōrero, Petra sits down with All Black legend Sir John Kirwan and his daughter – volleyball player, business owner and young mum – Francesca for a warm, wide-ranging conversation. They talk intergenerational living, the Italian way of life, and what it means to build a family that stays.

Francesca grew up between Auckland, Japan and Treviso, speaking Italian at home, saying goodbye to one set of grandparents to see the o...

Tarryn Stokes won the 12th season of The Voice Australia at 40, making her the oldest winner in the show's history. But long before the blind audition that stopped the judges in their tracks, she'd spent years singing backing vocals for Guy Sebastian and Jessica Mauboy, leading worship in churches, and quietly wondering if she'd already missed her moment.

In this kōrero, Tarryn opens up about growing up in a musical family with a grand piano in the lounge, and how singing has always been her native language. We talk about her ADHD diagnosis three years ago, t...

Born in Aotearoa, raised in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, and transplanted to suburban Melbourne at age ten, Safina Stewart has spent most of her life figuring out where home is. As an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artist, educator, and storyteller, she's had to find that answer from the inside out.

In this kōrero, Safina opens up about growing up as a "bush pikinini," not learning to read until she was 18, and the quiet devastation of arriving in Australia as a child with no map for the path ahead. We talk about the 2023 Voice r...

Kia ora e te whānau!

In the melee of mid-life - which can be dense, frantic and fabulous all at once - we need spaces to listen to each other and to ourselves, and it’s useful to navigate those gritty ‘grey areas’ together.

This season, we aren’t holding back - digging deep into topics that matter most to us right now like hormones, skin, aging parents, courage and keeping on keeping on (and we add a little sparkle for good measure)!

Hormone Health: Dr Lara Briden joins Petra in person to give u...

In this episode, I sit down with the legendary Lucy Lawless — actor, director, and all-round creative force — for a real conversation about what it means to embrace midlife - to dig into the surprise and delight of this season.

Lucy shares how her fifties have brought a renewed sense of drive and possibility. We talk about learning to take risks, staying open to being changed by others, and the freedom that comes from trying, even when success isn’t guaranteed.

From her role in Pike River to stepping behind the camera as a director and tackli...

In our fast-paced, image-oriented world, it's no surprise that our relationship with food - especially as our bodies change in midlife - can sometimes be fraught. 

In this kōrero, Claire Turnbull, a seasoned nutritionist and author of, End Your Fight with Food, opens up about her personal challenges and provides insights into the complex world of eating, self-image, and holistic well-being. 

We dive into some of her key teaching to inspire and guide us toward a healthier relationship with our bodies, brains and plates. 

This episode tackles some confronting topics - if you...

In this episode I sit down with legend of the screen, print and airwaves, Jesse Mulligan for a candid conversation.

We chat about being described as an 'enigma', his unique thought processes and difficulties parenting in a digital age. Jesse also opens up about the only time he cried on television, his challenges navigating romantic and professional relationships and his surprising perspective on ego and responding to criticism.

This kōrero offers an authentic glimpse into Jesse’s unique blend of honesty, humor, and empathy.

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Song...

Endometriosis affects at least 1 in every 10 women in Aotearoa New Zealand — that is a staggering number.

In this episode, mother and content creator Fatima Savea opens up about her long struggle with severe menstrual pain and undiagnosed endometriosis, which took a serious toll on both her physical and mental health. Fatima shares how she and her husband, Julian Savea, only discovered the condition when they were trying to conceive their second child - a journey that finally brought long-overdue answers.

Later in the episode, I’m joined by gynaecologist Dr. Amelia Ryan, who specialises in the...

In this episode Jess Quinn shares her courageous journey from surviving cancer as a child to becoming an amputee and dealing with endometriosis. 

Jess talks about her path to self-acceptance, the very real challenges and joys of motherhood without the convenience of two legs, and her advocacy work for women's health. 

Emphasizing radical acceptance and her life as ‘an open book’ with boundaries, Jess delves into her mission to help others advocate for themselves and embrace their unique stories. 

She also reflects on the power of community support, because we are designed to do toug...

TJ Power is the best-selling author of The DOSE Effect and a neuroscientist who teaches people, young and old, how to fix their brains. 

By paying attention to how we’re wired, and what we spend our time doing, we can change our brain chemistry in remarkably simple and effective ways.

In our social media-soaked frantic society it’s easy to accidentally ‘hack’ our motivation getting cheap rewards that don’t last and lead to addictive and unfulfilling behaviours.

In this chat TJ gives us plenty of tips for how to get our brains back...

In this interview, I sat down with the inspiring, go-getter Nadia Lim. 

Our conversation covers cookbooks, chickens, sunflowers, and the seasons of life. Nadia also opens up about her relationship with her husband Carlos, the importance of self-care, community and resilience. 

This is a deeply candid discussion filled with valuable insights, plenty of laughs, and reveals the highs and lows of juggling family, career, and living alongside nature. 

Share this episode with a friend and make sure to grab a copy of Nadia’s new cookbook, Nadia’s Farm Kitchen. 

Support the show...

In this interview, I sat down with beloved kiwi musician Stan Walker. Our conversation covers his multidimensional career, his journey with identity, the importance of maintaining boundaries, and protecting his peace. 

He speaks openly about his growing understanding of forgiveness, the effects of trauma, and the long-term process of healing and self-acceptance. Stan also emphasises his dedication to his family, health, and bringing hope, life, healing, and joy through his music. 

I really admire Stan for his vulnerability, honesty and courage and I’m so excited to share this kōrero with you all. 

This...

As you and most of the world know, Dame Jacinda is the former Prime Minister of New Zealand and recently published her best-selling memoir, A Different Kind of Power.

Our cross-hemisphere conversation covers identity, servant leadership, politics and her immense sense of responsibility. We also chat about the brand new documentary, Prime Minister, (and having partner Clarke Gayford turning the camera on her at home), and her latest offering, Mum’s Busy Work, a children’s book.

I loved gaining more insight into her early life, the family and faith that shaped her. As well as h...

Season 8 of Grey Areas launches tomorrow! And just like the first sensational seven seasons my guests will wrangle with the challenging, embrace the mystery and celebrate the wins - I’m excited to dig into the grey areas of life with my NEW guests and you. Can’t wait!

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In this bonus episode of Grey Areas, we bring you the full interview with neuropsychiatrist Dr Greg Finucane for episode 1 of this season, ‘When ADHD meets perimenopause’. A conversation that turned out to be unexpectedly emotional – and incredibly clarifying.

We talk about why so many women, including me, are getting diagnosed with ADHD in midlife, and how perimenopause can cause the carefully stacked house of cards that is our coping mechanisms to start to fall.

Greg and I tackle what’s happening in the brain, how diagnostic systems work (and sometimes don’t), and whether ADHD is re...

In part two of my conversation with Dame Anne Salmond, we go deeper - into wānanga (the meeting of ideas), into te ao Māori (Māori worldview), and into the kind of thinking that could help us live better together.

Dame Anne speaks about her decades-long relationship with her Māori mentors, Eruera and Amiria Stirling, and how those relationships rewired her understanding of the world. We talk about what it means to live in a relational way - and how te reo Māori doesn’t just name the world, it can reshape it. This kō...

In this first part of our kōrero, I sit down with Dame Anne Salmond—a thinker whose mind is vast, and whose heart is very much rooted in the soil of Aotearoa. Dame Anne is an anthropologist, writer, and one of our most decorated scholars, but what shapes her most is relationship - whakapapa, whenua, and whānau.

We start where all good conversations should: at the kitchen table. Dame Anne tells me about her wild and wonderful upbringing in a family of nine kids, where dinner was frequently like a full-blown debate club, and learning happ...

In this episode I sit down with biochemist Dr Libby Weaver, a nutritionist, speaker, and author of 13 books (soon to be 14). Libby brings a holistic lens to wellbeing, combining science, nutrition, and emotional insight in a way that’s both practical and also deeply human.

We explore the gap between what we know and what we do, and why that gap exists. Libby unpacks the power of belief systems – how they quietly shape our choices, our habits, and even our health. We talk about stress, sugar cravings, hormone changes, perimenopause, self-talk, and the importance of iron, all wove...

In this episode, I sit down with Amanda Luxon. Amanda is a former teacher, Myers-Briggs coach, lifelong learner – and yes, the ‘First Lady’ of New Zealand.

Our conversation isn’t about politics (though it inevitably comes up), but about difference, understanding, and friendship – because even though in many ways we’re chalk and cheese, we’ve been friends for years.

We first connected over our shared passion for fighting human trafficking, but on a long summer walk earlier this year, we found language for just how differently we see the world – and how fascinating and enriching that c...

In this latest episode I am joined by acclaimed journalist and author Ali Mau, who’s new memoir, No Words for This, has just hit shelves. 

This powerful and vulnerable conversation covers Ali’s experiences with childhood sexual abuse, the life-changing phone call from her sister and her journey to speaking publicly. 

We also delve into complex family dynamics and the significant power of knowing you're not alone. Ali also tells us about her game-changing new charity, Tika, the twists and turns of her career, and her way of riding into a better work/life balance...

In this episode we delve into the captivating love story of legendary actors Michael Hurst and Jennifer Ward-Leland, whose "showmance" has blossomed into a beautiful partnership spanning over four decades.

Michael and Jennifer open up about their personal lives, sharing heartwarming memories (such as the excitement of buying their first Toyota), and reflecting on their rich experiences in the world of theatre. 

From navigating the challenges of aging and caregiving to exploring the emotional depths of performing in a play centered around dementia, this episode offers sincere insights into the power of love and art.

In this episode, I sit down with Raelene Castle, a trailblazer in sports management as the first female CEO of Netball New Zealand and now the CEO of Sport New Zealand and High Performance Sport New Zealand. 

We discuss her trajectory in the corporate and sporting worlds, her upbringing in a sport-centric family, and the importance for her of finding confidence through activity. 

Raelene shares her insights on the challenges women in leadership face - including the (elusive) balance of personal and professional life. She is not afraid to talk about the losses and well as...

I'm stoked to sit down with Nadia Reid, who recently released her fourth album, Enter Now Brightness. Our conversation meanders through the various stages of her life – from a futon in Auckland’s Devonport to the bustling cityscapes of Manchester, via the chill vistas of Dunedin.

As we go, we look at how these places have shaped Nadia, her transformative experience of motherhood, and how the events of her life have added richness and depth to her songwriting.

We also discuss the importance of wriggling out of your comfort zone, and how Nadia and her band...

What does happen when ADHD meets perimenopause? Neuropsychiatrist Dr. Greg Finucane joins us to help untangle this growing connection.

Recently, I have found myself navigating the surprising emotions and 'aha!' moments that can accompany an ADHD diagnosis. It was like the jigsaw puzzle of my life found some lost pieces, giving me a clearer picture of how I fit together and fit into the world.

My exploration leads us through how diagnosis can reshape family bonds and support communication, including a heartfelt conversation with my husband, reflecting on how awareness of ADHD is contributing...

Kia ora e hoa mā! I'm Petra Bagust and Grey Areas is back for season 7, and I have to say I'm so excited for this season. 

You know how sometimes you just have a good feeling about things? 

And look, something I've learned from our conversations is that life rarely fits into tidy boxes. It spills over the edges, it surprises us, it challenges what we thought we knew, and that's where most of the interesting kōrero happens - at the edges, down a rabbit hole, on a tangent in the 'grey areas'. 

And...

Join me as I sit down with the delightful Professor Bev Lawton, a trailblazing advocate for women's health, who shares her insights into menopause, cervical cancer prevention and endometriosis. From her early days as a GP in Newtown, Wellington, Bev highlights the importance of evidence-based knowledge and the need for a stronger focus on women's health.

Bev brings such warmth and optimism to the topic of menopause, encouraging us to see it as a natural, manageable transition rather than a burden. She discusses her experience as a doctor and the importance of providing women with balanced information...