Kiwi Yarns

What happens when you end your live show tour in Christchurch on a Sunday night in-front of a sell out crowd with one of the most loved faces on television (Jason Gunn) and a true queen of radio (and former princess of Dargaville Lana Searle)?

An endless supply of stories that might have you taking out an ACC claim because your cheeks will suffer from laughing so much. Period.

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This week, Wayne Cameron from the Little Ardroy Beef Company pops into the bach to chat about his massive year.

From a simple farm concept to launching in over a hundred supermarkets, Wayne shares exactly how he made it happen as part of New World Emerge.

We dig into what ethically raised beef actually means and why sometimes you just have to wing it to chase your dream.

This episode was brought to you by New World Emerge. New World Emerge is a national initiative, bac...

Joel Little works right at the top of the music industry. But, his latest and most challenging project is much closer to home.

He and his wife Gemma co-founded and built BIG FAN - is a not-for-profit, world class multi-purpose music space in central Auckland, just down the road from where he and Lorde wrote Pure Heroine.

He wants to foster the talents of musicians, songwriters and those behind the scenes - no matter where they are at in their musical journey.

We talk...

Have you ever thought about quitting your secure day job to become your own boss?

This week, I yarn with Allie Hemmings, the former primary school teacher who did exactly that. Allie created ButterLuxe Co and won the 2025 New World Emerge startup award. 

After discovering her son had a nut allergy, Allie set out to create a delicious, nut-free alternative. Through plenty of kitchen trials and sheer determination, Oaty Butter was born.

Allie shares her open and honest journey as a neurodivergent founder, explaining h...

This week, sit down and get your eye and earholes around this.

The first of Brodie’s nationwide live tour of Kiwi Yarns begins in Auckland, with our beloved Comedian Tom Sainsbury and our one-of-a-kind, out-the-gate yet beautiful singer-songwriter Anika Moa.

There are wigs, harmonising VERY badly, and an obscene amount of belly laughs and possibly some bits that enter into dangerous territory. Not to be missed!

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Ash London is an Australian broadcaster who now calls New Zealand home, and works at The Edge Radio Station, on a show that is literally her name - that’s how good she is.

Not only is she good, the talented broadcaster talks about why she sees it as her duty to protect the radio industry for future generations, making sure she helps the young women who will eventually replace her. How refreshing is that?!

Ash talks about losing her dad at a yo...

What happens when you release your first album in eight years, open a sandwich shop, move back to New Zealand, and navigate a separation all at once?

This week on Kiwi Yarns, we sit down with Gin Wigmore for one of the most honest conversations we've ever had. Gin opens up about heartbreak, rebuilding after divorce, raising two boys, and why she throws herself headfirst into everything she does.

From her whirlwind love story that took her from New Zealand to Los Angeles...

Our beloved actress, Sara Wiseman has spent three decades gracing our screens - from stunt work during the Xena: Warrior Princess era to starring in A Place To Call Home and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.

You better believe we'll find out what it takes to become an ape at "ape camp".

Sara also discusses the moments that nearly made her quit acting and why she finds taking acting classes just as important now as ever.

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What happens when one of the most respected coaches in world MMA starts using his platform to tackle violence outside the cage?

This week on Kiwi Yarns, we sit down with City Kickboxing head coach Eugene Bareman.

From coaching UFC stars like Israel Adesanya, Dan Hooker and Kai Kara-France, to launching the Walk Without Fear Trust after the tragic loss of friend and fighter Fau Vake, Eugene opens up about purpose, leadership and the responsibility that comes with influence.

We see our country's Armed Offenders Squad in the most serious of circumstances - but who are the people behind the helmets and balaclavas?

This week I met the amazing Sergeant Eseta Autagavaia, who, alongside being one of the few women in New Zealand Police's AOS, also plays netball at a professional level.

She talks about how physically and mentally challenging getting into the AOS was, and how that experience and being on the netball court complement each other.

...

Award-winning comedian Pax Assadi is having a massive month as his new book, Mortified, hits the shelves. The book contains the most embarrassing things that have happened in his life, including a legendary mishap in a Pakistani mosque. Pax wants us all to lean into our cringe, and why he’s over the curated perfection we see on social media. We talk about his family’s escape from Iran, and his Baha'i faith, the concept of progressive revelation, and how his spiritual beliefs shape his view of a fractured world.

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Laura McGoldrick is everywhere. And that’s an understatement. The Sky Sport Presenter is in the bach this week for a really solid heart-to-heart. From our accidental wedding in Vegas, to the raw reality of motherhood and navigating devastating miscarriages.

Laura is hands down one of the most talented broadcasters on our screens, and it’s through hard work, hard slogs and dogged determination. She deserves the flowers every day of the week.

How she shuts out the noise of being in the publ...

This week is an incredibly special episode with Jono Ridler - the open water, ultra marathon swimmer who, on Saturday 4 April, 2026, completed a 1367 kilometer swim - the length of the North Island.

Jono didn’t do this swim for accolades or records, he did this swim because of his love for the ocean, and to raise awareness that we aren’t doing enough to protect it.

Jono’s Swim4TheOcean campaign is a call to end bottom trawling - because we are the last country still doing it in the so...

This week meet the fabulously hilarious comedian, Courtney Dawson.

We discuss her experience as a young mum, her Te Reo Māori journey and the highs and lows of performing stand-up comedy. When her jokes bomb, she leans into it!

Courtney talks Celebrity Treasure Island, I test out her work as an Agony Aunt, and how to make the most of a trip to Australia for a court hearing (hint: it involves Dreamworld).

Courtney Dawson w...

This week the super talented Alex Tarrant - star of NCIS Hawaii - reflects on the often windy and bumpy road that has led him to where he is today.

It wasn't until a significant life event that he realised acting and the industry surrounding it were his "people". And, on the podcast, we learn for the first time about this significant life event that occurred when he was at high school.

Alex is based in Hawaii and has landed brilliantly big roles both locally and abroad as his s...

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of miscarriage. If you need support, please find more information at https://wheturangitia.services.govt.nz/miscarriage/support-resources

Meet the beautifully talented writer, actor, playwright, and novelist, Elisabeth Easther. You'll surely remember her as "Evil Nurse Carla" on our beloved Shortland Street back in the 90s.

Now, a best-selling author with Seed, she shares how and why the novel was more than a decade in the making. And, while it's fiction, it is based on real-life experiences, personal loss, and the messy, complicated re...

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of mental ill-health and suicide. Support is available any time from Lifeline, details at https://www.lifeline.org.nz/

This week on Kiwi Yarns, I sit down with Kate Thompson - star of the recently released documentary No Tears On The Field. The film follows a grassroots women's rugby season in Taranaki, and the backstories of what it takes to get to the field.

Kate talks the rise of women’s rugby in New Zealand, the realities of...

What do you do when you're staring down a $700,000 mortgage and suddenly lose your job?

For beloved broadcaster Brodie Kane, redundancy at the start of the pandemic was the push she needed to build her own media empire.

We talk about the reality of being your own boss, redefining home ownership by buying with her mum, and why she still identifies as a girl from Waikuku Beach. This episode was made possible thanks to our friends at enable.me. Financial coaching and strategic advice. Pay down debt. Grow wealth. Re...

What happens when two very different minds click in all the right ways? The Rock's Jay Reeve and Duncan Heyde (aka Jay and Dunc) on the special relationship that’s powered their success on-air and beyond.

From side hustles to global podcast growth, and maintaining healthy relationships while staying busy, the lads open up about how they navigate it all. There’s plenty of honesty around mental load, family life, and the general chaos that comes with chasing every opportunity that life throws.

We also discuss what keeps the lads grounded! We talk...

From growing up in South Auckland to performing on the world’s biggest opera stages, Pene Pati shares a wonderful yarn of the long road (including all the speed bumps) that got him there.

His is a story about resilience, family, identity, and the challenges he still faces before he walks out infront of an audience. He opens up about the pressure of the industry, the reality of rejection, and why he still sometimes feels like an outsider in the traditionally European opera world.

Let's not forget the great joy he brings us with being on...

Imagine being responsible for a heart no bigger than a walnut. 

This week I sit down with Dr Kirsten Finucane, the legendary former Chief Surgeon at Starship, to talk about a career spent performing life-saving miracles on New Zealand’s most vulnerable children. 

Kirsten opens up about the grit it takes to handle high-stakes surgery and why she finally decided it was time to trade the operating theatre for conservation work in Central Otago. 

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The media landscape in Aotearoa is changing at breakneck speed and we’re all feeling the noise. Brodie sits down with The Spinoff’s Toby Manhire to talk about the reality of the newsroom today. From the closure of Newshub to the rise of AI, Toby shares why he’s still optimistic about journalism in an election year. Plus, he gives us his personal plan for avoiding total news burnout.

Find out more about Toby's upcoming event, 'Breakfast with Papers' here.

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This week I'm joined by yoga teacher and dancer Renee Stewart, who opens up about forging her own path from the global dance stage to the world’s most remote corners. If there was ever a competition for 'coolest parents' at parent teacher interviews, Renee could be a front runner with Rachel Hunter and Rod Stewart. 

Renee shares what it’s really like to cross the terrifying Drake Passage to reach Antarctica, and the pull back to her Kiwi roots. It’s a warm, honest chat about movement, mental tools, and finding your own flow.

Hello there beautiful listeners! Brodie, Gracie and Tegan here with some exciting news to share and, we wanted you to be the first to hear it from us.
This year, we're bringing you Let Her Finish. The podcast will appear right here, so nothing for you to do.

We cannot wait to see you all in a couple of weeks xxx

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I'm joined by an absolute legend of the Aotearoa drag scene in the bach this week. 

Edward Cowley, better known as the iconic Buckwheat, joins me to mark a massive milestone: the 40th anniversary of the Homosexual Law Reform Act.

From the secret nightclub stairs of the 80s to being a Samoan father of three, Edward shares it all with heart and a bit of sparkle.

We dig into the grit behind the glamour, why Pride is still so vital in 2026, and the power of...

This week we're joined by Olympic gold winning coach Bev Priestman for a deeply personal conversation. Bev opens up about the 'survival mode' she had to endure following the Canadian football team drone scandal at the Paris Olympics.

We talk about finding peace in North Canterbury, the challenge of leading our Wellington Phoenix, and why she’s ready to earn back the trust of the game she loves.  

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Welcome back to Kiwi Yarns, and welcome to our new bach!  We're kicking off 2026 with a man who has clocked up billions of views just by being his gorgeous self. 

Louis Davis opens up about the 'delusional confidence' his parents gave him, and how he navigated the jump from a small town in the Far North to rubbing shoulders with Hollywood stars like Jason Momoa.  

We also speak about the dark side of social media, and Louis shares his mission to change the stereotype of Māori men. 

What a year it’s been. A huge thank you to all our incredible guests for joining us and sharing their stories. The kōrero throughout 2025 has been raw, real, uplifting, entertaining and inspiring.

In this bonus Best of episode, we revisit some of our favourite moments from the past year, featuring Samantha Hayes, Matt Watson, Tami Neilson, Eru Kapa-Kingi, Martin Guptill, Sara Qasem, Jo Kane, Russel Norman, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and Paul Henry.

We can’t wait for more outstanding yarns in 2026.

Mā te wā.

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For the final episode of the year, I thought it fitting to invite someone whose job is literally to explain things, and ask him to put it all into context.

Not all of it is good news, but it’s important we reflect on the good, the bad and the ugly in this tumultuous world.

Fear not, though - award-winning journalist, good friend and Stuff’s Explainer Editor Lloyd Burr joins me for plenty of laughs, a dose of therapy, some wisdom and advice, and a proper go at brioche buns.

Thank you, as a...

Ella Monnery is the voice of Christmas in the Park, belts out bangers at Synthony, and takes the main stage at Rhythm and Vines — but it’s only this year that she has focused on her solo career. With the support of her partner - producer and rapper Kings - she’s stepping confidently into a new phase.

From The Voice Australia to a nine-month cruise-ship contract, Ella has always been singing - and loving it. But challenges remain, including vocal surgery next year.

And yes, we’re dressed as Christmas decorations for this delightful chat in...

The aura of Matu Ngaropo hits you straight away, which is why it’s easy to see how he’s one of those performers who can do it all - and do it all well.

Matu works across film, television, and theatre. He took on one of the biggest roles of his career when he landed the part of George Washington in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton, performing across Australia and New Zealand an astonishing 700 times.

We geek out over what it takes to do something like that - and look ahead to another major role he has...

Niki Bezzant never set out to become New Zealand’s “menopause woman”, but the journalist, author, and speaker is really leaning into that title now.

It was the Healthy Food Guide founding editor’s own experiences that made her realise how little support there was for women.

Today we cut through the bullshit and hear how brilliant Niki is at helping us understand hormones, health, and happiness in menopause, midlife, and beyond (which is also the name of her best-selling book!).

And for my lovely male listeners - yes, this one’s absolutely for you as...

Almost everyone has an opinion on Paul Henry. Good or bad, people have certainly made up their minds about one of the country’s best-known broadcasters.

But should we pump the brakes on always thinking about his time on Breakfast? Is there more to Paul Henry than those controversial one-liners from way back when?

The new The Chase New Zealand host sits down to chat about all the other things that make up Paul Henry.

Your mind may or may not change about him - but give it a crack!

...

Claire Turnbull is a nutritionist, best-selling author and professional well-being speaker.

What makes Claire so powerful is her lived experience. This isn’t some self-proclaimed “guru” pushing an agenda - Claire cuts through the shit and tells it like it is.

She cares because she’s been through it too: navigating disordered eating, dyslexia, depression, anxiety, postnatal psychosis, a brain injury, and now parenting a neurodiverse child.

Hearing Claire speak earlier this year was a game changer for me - and I hope this episode can be that for you too.

Lea...

René Heyde left his 14th school in Year 12 after a teacher told him he was “useless”.

He wasn’t. He was a kid surviving a traumatic childhood, just trying to find his way.

A few years later, after a chance ride through the streets of Christchurch, René was wearing a New Zealand jersey at the 1974 Commonwealth Games - and bringing home a bronze medal. At the closing ceremony, he and a team-mate even stopped the Queen’s Land Rover in its tracks.

Fifty years on, at 70, René cycled nearly 4,000 kilometres across Australia to raise money...

She never set out to be the greatest rugby player of all time - she was just a little girl who loved sport.

We’re lucky that girl was Portia Woodman-Wickliffe - a trailblazer for women’s rugby here in Aotearoa and across the world.

At 34, she’s the top try-scorer in New Zealand rugby history, but that’s never been her “why”.

We talk equality in sport, media coverage (or lack of it), and the future of the game - plus Barbies, babies, curly hair and midwifery.

Learn more about y...

Award-winning journalist Lisette Reymer is Stuff’s senior correspondent and author of No, I Don’t Get Danger Money.

Lisette spent three years as Newshub’s Europe Correspondent - and it’s fair to say what she witnessed and covered during that time is almost hard to comprehend. Eight trips to Ukraine during the war, Donald Trump’s indictment, the October 7 attacks on Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza, the Queen’s death, the Tokyo Olympics - and that’s just the beginning.

A former Breakfast colleague of mine and a girl who grew up on a Waikat...

Sara Qasem is a Palestinian teacher and writer who immigrated to Aotearoa at a young age and is now based in Ōtautahi.

In 2019, Sara lost her father, Abdelfattah, who was killed at the Al Noor Mosque by an Australian far-right terrorist who opened fire on two mosques in Christchurch - killing 51 people and injuring dozens more.

Through spoken word poetry, Sara advocates for and raises awareness of the Palestinian people.

Her story, words, and perspective are powerful, moving, and not to be missed.

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For more than five decades, Tāme Iti has been at the forefront of the pursuit of Māori rights in Aotearoa.

From being silenced from speaking te reo as a child, to finding strength in protest and tackling challenges head-on in remarkable ways, he has never stopped questioning the status quo.

Tāme is as well known and respected for his art as for his activism, and says the former saved his life and played a vital role in his healing.

This conversation, alongside reading his new memoir Mana, came at an esp...

I hope Jon Bridges takes this the right way when he reads it - he’s genuinely one of the good guys in New Zealand media.

With a television career spanning more than three decades, the comedian-turned-producer of some of the country’s biggest shows says it’s largely down to him saying “yes” to the jobs people ask him to do.

And who in the Gen-X/elder millennial age bracket could forget Bridges’ luscious locks on Ice TV in the late ’90s?

We talk about the dire state of the media and the public’s d...