Episodios

  • Jazz Thornton on the fight to save young minds
    Oct 6 2025

    A social media ban for under-16s could do more harm than good according to Jazz Thornton. The mental health advocate joins Paula to discuss what she’s learned from time spent in psychiatric wards with young people, redefining what it means to be resilient, and the personal cost of sharing her own story of survival so publicly.

    Suicide and depression help services:

    If it is an emergency and you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

    For counselling and support:

    • Lifeline: http://www.lifeline.co.nz, call 0800 543 354 or text 4357 (HELP)
    • Suicide Crisis Helpline: www.lifeline.org.nz/services/suicide-crisis-helpline, or call 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)

    Youth services:

    • Youthline: Call 0800 376 633 or text 234
    • What's Up: Call 0800 942 8787 (11am to 11pm) or webchat (11am to 10.30pm)
    • Depression helpline: Call 0800 111 757 or text 4202 (available 24/7)
    • Helpline: Need to talk? Call or text 1737
    • Aoake te Rā (Bereaved by Suicide Service): Call 0800 000 053

    For more information and support, talk to your local doctor, hauora, community mental health team, or counselling service.

    The Mental Health Foundation has more helplines and service contacts - click here for information

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    49 m
  • Suzanne Lynch on a lifetime of saying yes
    Sep 29 2025

    New Zealand music icon Suzanne Lynch joins Paula to talk about how trusting her gut – and knowing when to say yes or no – has shaped a career that took her from teenage stardom in The Chicks to touring the world with Cat Stevens. She reflects on childhood mischief, the magic of the sixties, and the work ethic that’s kept her grounded for six decades in music.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    40 m
  • Al Brown on keeping it simple, on the plate and in life
    Sep 22 2025

    Chef, author and fisherman Al Brown joins Paula to talk food, family and finding joy in the simple things. Al discusses growing up on a farm, discovering his love of kitchens on his OE, and why he believes informality beats fine dining every time. He also opens up about dyslexia and the drive that’s pushed him through decades in hospitality, and the inspiration behind his new book Hooked! Learning to Fish.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    40 m
  • Stacey Morrison on why speaking te reo Māori isn't about perfection
    Sep 15 2025

    Ignore the fear and just try it. That's the message from broadcaster, author and te reo translator Stacey Morrison as she joins Paula in celebration of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. Stacey shares her own “ugly, awkward, embarrassing” public learning journey, and why intent and aroha matter more than getting every word perfect.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    39 m
  • Grant Robertson versus Paula Bennett
    Sep 8 2025

    Ask Me Anything returns for a brand new season! And Paula's first guest is fellow former deputy prime minister, Grant Robertson. Once political adversaries, the pair sit down for a candid conversation about their shared experience as student protestors, the dangers of stress eating and why Grant was never interested in the top job.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    49 m
  • Leigh Hart on becoming 'That Guy', his eclectic path to stardom, and the one time he crossed the line
    Jun 28 2025

    For the final guest of the season, Paula is joined by 'That Guy' Leigh Hart. They dig into his intriguing childhood and early years dabbling in a variety of careers such as building the Channel Tunnel, and the troubles he got up to while overseas, before eventually breaking out on Sportscafe and Moon TV. And Leigh shares his advice for controlling your own brand and career, and how he's kept a handle on the various different fields he has worked in.

    Leigh's new show is Paid to Talk - live Fridays 3-4pm on Radio Hauraki, and as an extended podcast on iHeartRadio and all platforms.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    49 m
  • Suzy Cato on connecting with children, surviving redundancy, and her private struggles
    Jun 21 2025

    This week, Paula is joined by children's entertainment legend, and recent King's Birthday honoree, Suzy Cato. They dig into Suzy's career in front of the camera and what impact that's had on her life, and get her advice for connecting with children. Plus, Suzy discusses how she got through some of the tough times in her life - including being made redundant at the height of her popularity - and insights into her life, including not knowing her biological father.

    Stream Suzy and Friends wherever you get your podcasts.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    40 m
  • A doctor's insight into NZ's health crisis with Ivor Popovich
    Jun 14 2025

    This week, Paula's guest is Dr Ivor Popovich, an intensive care doctor in Auckland. He has worked across different hospitals and specialities for the last 10 years and will fully qualify as a specialist in August, but he has had first-hand knowledge of the state of our health system in that time.

    He has written a book - A Dim Prognosis: Our Health System in Crisis – and a Doctor’s View on How To Fix It - and joins Paula to discuss his career journey and what he thinks our health system needs.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    40 m