Welcome to Kiwi Yarns - those yarns you have where you sit down, put the kettle on, pour a whiskey or crack open a beer. I honestly don‘t mind. Anyway! We‘re sitting down and we’re yarning to some great New Zealanders, their back stories, their front stories, even stories where they went sideways, we will go there. It’s a place where we celebrate the great people of this glorious nation.

Brodie Kane

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 Thomson - 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.

You’re Allowed to Cry, Just Not on the Footy Field:Kate Thomson’s Rule for Rugby

Brodie chats with Jay and Dunc about the brotherhood behind their massive success. They open up about mental load, being good dads, and why their unique connection keeps them grounded.

Why the Bromance and Healthy Masculinity of Jay and Dunc Should Be Celebrated

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. 

How Pene Pati took Samoa to the biggest opera stages in the world

Discover Kirsten's remarkable career as Starship Hospital's paediatric heart surgeon and her commitment to the Hearts for Kids Trust, bringing life-saving surgeries to Pacific kids. 

World-Renowned Dr Kirsten Finucane’s Remarkable Career at Starship Hospital

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

Edward Cowley on Drag, Fatherhood, and 40 Years of Rainbow Reform

This week I'm joined by yoga teacher and dancer Renee Stewart

Renee Stewart on Breathwork, Boundaries, and Big Adventures

We're joined by Olympic gold-winning coach Bev Priestman, who opens up about the 'survival mode' she had to endure following the drone scandal at the Paris Olympics. 

The Phoenix Restart: Bev Priestman on Her Toughest Year

We're kicking off 2026 with a man who has clocked up billions of views just by being his gorgeous self. 

Louis Davis on the Dark Side of Social Media and Creating His Dream Life

From country kid to news anchor: An interview with Samantha Hayes

Samantha Hayes on dealing with grief from all angles

Brodie Kane sits down with Paul Henry to look past his controversial Breakfast days. Get to know the man behind The Chase NZ, the yachts, and the gin.

Get to know who Paul Henry really is

Tāme Iti reflects on fifty years of Māori activism, from the frontlines of protest to the healing power of art. We talk te reo, his new memoir, and questioning the status quo.

Veteran activist Tāme Iti on racism, te reo Māori, and how art saved his life

Seven years in the making, Brodie finally sat down with Dame Jacinda Ardern. They discuss her new book, the power of leading with kindness, and why she has no regrets about moving on.

Brynley Stent and Kura Forrester on their Singles Club, Sonny Bill Williams at Pizza Hut, rejection, and independence

Episode Notes