Real Life With John Cowan

Manu dominated the rugby league world for over a decade, cementing his place as the Vodafone Warriors' all-time leading try-scorer and a powerhouse for the Kiwis. But beyond the staggering stats, the massive hits, and the unforgettable tries, what has always made Manu a crowd favourite is his massive heart. He has navigated the highest peaks of sporting stardom and faced some of life’s toughest, most vulnerable chapters with total honesty. John sat down with Manu to chat about resilience, the power of reinventing yourself, and what it really means to lead with courage on and off the field. You don’t want to miss this raw, inspiring conversation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt Watson is a household name in New Zealand and a true Kiwi icon, best known as the charismatic creator and host of the legendary ITM Fishing Show. From launching his television career with high-octane viral stunts—like his infamous helicopter-to-marlin jump that landed him on David Letterman—Watson has evolved into one of Aotearoa’s most passionate ocean advocates. A fierce champion for sustainable fishing and marine conservation, he brings incredible storytelling and a deeply independent perspective on the future of our oceans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For over 50 years, Tāme Iti (Ngāi Tūhoe) has been the face of Māori resistance and mana motuhake. From the front lines of the 1975 Land March and the founding of Ngā Tamatoa to the controversial Urewera raids, Tāme has spent his life challenging New Zealand to reckon with its colonial past.Once branded a radical, he is now an Arts Foundation Laureate and a celebrated contemporary artist whose work turns activism into performance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a 30-year legal career specialising in resource management and iwi claims, Ron Crosby retired in 2007 to focus on writing, often drawing from his extensive experience as a bush explorer to inform his historical research.His work is noted for its deep focus on te ao Māori and military history, including seminal titles such as The Musket Wars (1999) and Kūpapa: The Bitter Legacy of Māori Alliances with the Crown(2015)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barbara is a highly respected journalist and storyteller, known for bringing the voices and stories of the Pacific to the forefront of New Zealand media. With decades of experience and deep cultural understanding, she has reported from across the region with integrity, compassion, and courage.A multi-award-winning journalist, Barbara has received top honours including the Voyager Media Award for Best Māori and Pacific Affairs Reporting, recognising her outstanding contribution to journalism in Aotearoa.Her work not only informs but connects communities, shining a light on important issues while celebrating the richness and resilience of Pacific peoples.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

British broadcaster and survivalist Bear Grylls is well-known for pushing himself to the limits of human capability. As the host of Man vs Wild, the former SAS soldier ate rotting zebra flesh, a yak’s eyeball and a live snake; fashioned a sleeping bag out of a camel’s carcass; and swam naked across a Siberian river in -67degC temperatures. His tendency to drink his own urine as a survival tactic has spawned an entire meme format. But ask Grylls the most difficult thing he’s ever done, and he doesn’t name-drop any of his stunts in the Sahara, the Arctic or the other extreme environments he’s conquered. He says it’s writing a book – 2025’s The Greatest Story Ever Told, his immersive retelling of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Grylls’ biographical novel, which rose to the top of the Sunday Times bestseller list after last year’s release, is an account of Jesus’ life more akin to a thriller, and told from the perspectives of those who knew him best. “I still film our TV shows and I love all of that, but this has been different… It's been the hardest, but probably the best thing I feel I've ever done,” he told Petra Bagust in a Newstalk ZB interview that aired on Good Friday. “Faith has always been a quiet part of my life… [but] the story of Jesus that I grew up with was such a sanitised version of it and never really felt relevant or personal to my life. “As a teenager, when I eventually found a faith, it became a bedrock and anchor and backbone. I realised the real story of Jesus is so different from the one I grew up with as a young kid, which was very much rooted in church and religion – quite smiley and nice. “The real story of Christ is so incredible and life-changing, and it's a story of courage, friendship, risk, rescue and sacrifice. I just thought so few people know that actual story.” The Greatest Story Ever Told transports readers into the brutal realities of first-century Palestine and an unassuming refugee’s world-changing life and ministry. Each character is assigned their original Aramaic names (Jesus becomes ‘Yeshua’, while Joseph is ‘Yosef’), with theologians and historians helping Grylls at every step of the writing process to maintain accuracy. Particular care was taken to ensure none of Jesus’ words were altered from original Gospel  accounts. Grylls told Newstalk ZB The Greatest Story Ever Told is written for those without a faith, some of whom may not have had positive memories of engaging with Christianity in the past, to hear the Gospel story afresh. “ So many of us with faith and religion, we have filters and bad experiences – and just the word ‘God’ or ‘father’ or even ‘Jesus’ can be difficult for people. We've done a pretty good job, over 2000 years, of screwing up a really beautiful ultimate message of love and forgiveness and redemption,” he said. “That's why it's been so powerful for me to get so many letters, thousands of them every day… from every culture, every country, every faith – atheist, Muslims, you name it – all basically say the same thing, which is ‘I had no idea the real story of Jesus’.” Asked by Bagust about the book’s connections to his adventure background, Grylls says the principles of survival on a mountain or in a jungle are much the same as when they are applied to the mental, emotional and spiritual challenges of everyday life. “ These are part of our arsenal of weapons as a human. Look at the great stories of survival through prison or concentration camps or war or loss or whatever – that hope, that light, that spiritual bit is a powerful bit, [and] the physical follows,” he said. “The great survivors have that burning light inside that is unrelenting and all-conquering, and it's what sets us apart as humans. “ What helps me be strong in a jungle or a mountain? It's the same thing that helps me through the tough days of life. For me, my faith has … been that streak of steel. I don't want to stand on my own strength because a lifetime of surviving has made me realise I'm not that strong.” Grylls’ favourite story from the book is when the Pharisees accuse Jesus of being a glutton and a drunkard because he’s affiliating with the rough end of society, and he responds by telling them he had come to seek and save the lost. “I was one of the lost boys, I still am. But I was found – and I'm such a proud lost boy. I'm proud to be found. And that changed everything for me,” he said. “I don't feel particularly religious. I don't go to church very much – I mean, I do try and go a bit with a family – but my faith isn't rooted in that. “My faith is in the simple everyday: the connection, the friendships, the kneeling by our boys' bed before they go to sleep and saying a prayer for them. It's in laughter with good friends and love of family, and how we live and tackle risk and relationships and all these things. “That's for me, how he [Jesus] lived and wanted to bring out that sort of spirit in us. He said, ‘I'm the bread of life, come to me’. I keep it simple, but that's how I try and live every day.” LISTEN TO FULL INTERVIEW ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aled Jones MBE, a name synonymous with musical brilliance, has been enchanting audiences since the 1980s. He was the original cross-over artist and is eternally cherished as one of the most accomplished boy sopranos globally, captivating the world from his debut at 12 years old in Handel's Oratorio Jeptha, broadcast on BBC2 and BBC Radio 3. After a brief pause when his voice broke at 16, Aled’s career continued to flourish across musical theatre, recordings, and broadcasting. His albums Aled and Higher topped the charts, including in Australia where he became the biggest selling classical artist. He has also appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, hosted programmes including Good Morning Sunday and Friday Night is Music Night on BBC Radio 2, and now presents the most listened-to shows on Classic FM on Saturday and Sunday mornings as well as the BBC’s flagship religious TV programme Songs of Praise.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Niki Harré is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Auckland. She writes, researches and teaches about values-based practice, environmental sustainability, the future of universities and living well together on our shared planet. Her new book is titled The CallingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liz Stokes is an Auckland-based songwriter and frontwoman of acclaimed indie rock band The Beths, known for her sharp lyrics, emotional honesty, and irresistibly punchy melodies. Across the band’s internationally celebrated albums — including Future Me Hates Me, Jump Rope Gazers, Expert in a Dying Field, and the recent Straight Line Was A Lie — Stokes has built a reputation for writing candidly about mental health, uncertainty, and resilience, often pairing heavy themes with bright, energetic hooks. After navigating several years of mental and physical health challenges, her recent work reflects a deeper acceptance of life’s cyclical nature and a desire to offer comfort to others going through ongoing struggles. With a devoted global fanbase and a growing presence on the world stage, Liz Stokes continues to be one of Aotearoa’s most compelling and relatable songwriting voices. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anna is a New Zealand and Swedish freestyle skier and reporter for TV Show The Crowd Goes Wild. She began skiing with her family at the age of four but it wasn’t until she finished school and began dedicating full seasons to the sport that she discovered her passion for slopestyle skiing. She competed for New Zealand at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. She finished 15th in qualification of the women's slopestyle event, missing the final by only two places. Her father, Hamish Willcox, was a professional sailor who competed in the America's Cup and her brother, Daniel Willcox, represented New Zealand at the 2016 Summer Olympics in sailing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sophie Gray is the face and inspiration behind "destitute gourmet", the ‘dg’ cookery series and is a popular speaker, teacher, and regular contributor to Food and Taste magazines. She leads an international community of followers through her active Destitute-Gourmet Facebook page, as well as Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, and an upcoming money-saving app. Sophie shares family-friendly recipes that are easy, tasty, healthy, affordable, and often include gluten-free and dairy-free alternatives, supported by fundamentals such as menu planning, smart shopping, creative use of leftovers, and seasonal eating. Based in Auckland with her husband Richard and their teenagers Isabella and Jack, she works full-time communicating the destitute gourmet philosophy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heather has been at the helm of Diabetes NZ since 2017. She has a strong background in not-for-profit organisations. Since working at Diabetes NZ she has completed a full national unification of the organisation, driving positive change and engagement around the country. Heather has the experience to ensure Diabetes NZ continues to grow its reach into communities and through key stakeholders to improve diabetes awareness, education and advocacy. Prior to joining Diabetes NZ Heather has held Chief Executive roles with the NZ Police Association and the Manfeild Park Trust, a motor racing circuit and events centre in Manawatū. Heather has also acted as Deputy Chief Executive of the New Zealand Council of Victim Support Groups.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.