Kiwi Yarns

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 south Pacific High seas. Hear how he got through the hard days, the jellyfish stings, the shark sightings, the vomiting, the cold water, the rough seas. This is a remarkable story, and in my opinion, will go down as one of the greatest endurance feats ever by a New Zealander. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 star continues to shine. The latest role, one of the most challenging for him thus far, is playing 28th Māori Battalion hero Haane Manahi in Sgt Haane. SGT HAANE will have ten days of Special Commemorative Screenings 20-29 April 2026 including ANZAC DAY, followed by a wide release from 30 April. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 balancing farm life with sport, and the importance of community. She also opens up about mental health in rural areas, losing loved ones, and the role rugby plays in keeping her grounded. Plus, her relationship with her mum is something pretty special. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 about the power of strong connections, strong partners, and being good dads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 a really good headpiece. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 always, for your wonderful support. Look out for Kiwi Yarns highlights over the next few weeks, and I’ll see you for more yarns with brilliant Kiwis in 2026. Mā te wā! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 coming up in New Zealand next year, in & Juliet. A fabulous kōrero with a wonderfully talented human! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 for Cholmondeley Children’s Centre - the place that helped him through his toughest years. René’s story is a reminder that no matter where you start, it’s never too late to grab life by the handlebars and ride it for all it’s worth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices