Kiwi Yarns

Today’s guest is an absolute weapon of an athlete. Dougal Allan is a Coast to Coast rockstar, winning the Longest Day twice, and making the podium nine times.Then, this year, he goes and pivots in quite the opposite direction - and is now staring down the barrel of an America’s Cup with Team New Zealand. You see, Dougal has been picked to be a cyclor on the team when they defend the cup in Barcelona next year. It's unreal!Dougal is a CurraNZ athlete, and CurraNZ are proudly bringing you Dougal’s story today.CurraNZ is a 100% natural sports and health superfood supplement made from New Zealand blackcurrants. I’ve been trying it for the past couple of months and I have genuinely noticed it’s aided my running recovery really well. If you use BRODIE at www.curranz.co.nz you’ll get a 20% discount on your first purchase on their 30 cap pack so give it a nudge.! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is a highly decorated police officer - and although Ross Pinkham retired from the force eleven years ago, he was one of the most experienced and high-profile provincial detectives.A massive 42 years dedicated to New Zealand Police - which included David Bain’s retrial, NZ police investigator during the Bali Bombings, and arresting one of the country’s most wanted criminals and prison escapee Bryan Curtis in the Philippines in 2002 (that's a yarn right out of the movies).Although retired from police work - he’s an advisor and the water truck driver at Rhythm and Vines - the festival his son Hamish runs.Ross is a great example of making the most of every day and being grateful for it all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest recently swapped the corporate life for the cowshed - and she couldn’t be happier. Lauren Randall has spent the bulk of her career in the events industry and didn’t have a rural bone in her body. But, she met her partner, donned some gumboots and now she has dreams to own her own dairy herd.Her story today is proudly brought to you by Dairy NZ. Their GoDairy Campaign is designed to engage young Kiwis as well as women like Lauren who are looking for a fresh start, a new career in the dairy sector which is more than just milking cows.Check out GoDairy.co.nz to find out more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is James Luck. But it’s also Elektra Shock. You see, James Luck has danced all over the world with people like Sia, Jessie J and Little Mix. Elektra Shock has featured on RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under and House of Drag. And, James AND Elektra were judges on the 2022 season of Dancing with the Stars…So let's hear both their stories! This is every bit as fabulous as I expected... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is the ultra marathon swimmer Jono Ridler.Now if you're wondering, ultra-marathon swimming generally means a 20 kilometre or greater swim. In other words a really really long swim.Well, Jono has just absolutely blown that out of the water (I’m not apologising for that pun) and swum 99.1 kilometres across the Hauraki Gulf. It’s the longest solo-unassisted open-water swim in New Zealand history.And, he didn’t do it for the accolades or for the record books, he did it to raise awareness of the dire state the Hauraki Gulf is in. Quite an extreme way to get a point across but he nailed the assignment! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is the super talented and bloody funny Steven Fernandez. He's an editor, a journalist, a stylist, a creative director, a producer, a publicist, and he's based in New York. If little black books were still a thing I reckon Steven’s would have some HUGE names in it (actually he showed me, he's got Kris Jenner's number).He’s been responsible for getting some of the biggest stars on the cover of Remix Magazine - we’re talking Naomi Campbell, Hayley Bieber, and just recently Ashley Graham.It's great to hear from a Kiwi who's absolutely smashing it overseas - we love to see it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is Major Buffy Little - a nursing officer in the New Zealand Army. Tomorrow (25 April) is Anzac Day, so who better to get on than a pretty remarkable woman who’s helped with the NZDF’s response to the Christchurch Earthquake, she was involved in the rescue efforts after the Whakaari/White Island eruption, and has served in Vanuatu and Iraq.Buffy is also a two-time breast cancer survivor, and she talks about when her wife was then also diagnosed in 2019, it made Buffy realise she wasn't quite dealing with the physical and mental toll it had taken on her.She's off to the Invictus Games in Germany in September - a mission that's been over three years in the making (thanks Covid). Good luck Buffy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is the incredible country music artist Kaylee Bell. She’s had an absolutely glorious year already, performing as the opening act for Ed Sheeran at his six stadium shows, she won a 2023 Australian Golden Guitar Award AND she’s about to headline her own shows throughout Aotearoa next month, as part of More Fm Radio's New Rising Star, Boots 'N All Tour. All that and it’s only April!Some really cool stories about all the hard graft to get to where she is today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guests are two great pals, two talented musicians and music producers who form the electronic duo Sachi.Will Thomas and Nick Crisp have grafted hard to get to where they are today - and it’s absolutely paid off - constantly selling out gigs and being the first Kiwis to perform at the massive Tomorrowland Festival in Belgium last year.They absolutely got me good on how they came up with their name too - possibly the most embarrassed I've ever been on this podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is a NATIONAL TREASURE.Sure, Suzanne Paul was born in England but she is our official infomercial queen. But it’s not just thousands of luminous spheres that make us all love her - her dogged determination and work ethic through every part of her career is so inspirational. Gosh, talk about someone who never ever ever gives up! She's remarkable! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices